COWETA COUNTY, Ga. -- A Coweta County Sheriff's deputy arrested a woman just before midnight on Wednesday, May 16, after she led him on a high-speed chase that ended when she crashed through a fence and about $500 worth of playground equipment
Once the deputy caught her, she says she fled because she knew there was a warrant for her arrest.
Deputy E. Mullis says he was on Georgia 85 in Haralson when a silver Toyota 4Runner drove past him without tail lights and disappeared into the darkness.
He began to pursue with the initial intent of making her aware of her disabled lights and advising her to turn on her hazard lights -- but the SUV began to speed away, making several illegal turns in an effort to get away from the deputy.
After a time, the Toyota plowed through a fence at a school and bumped over the playground equipment before coming to a stop.
Once the deputy had backup to arrive, he took the driver and a passenger into custody without incident, but the incident was not over.
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When Deputy Mullis gave dispatchers the tag number displayed on the Toyota 4Runner, it came back as being registered to a Ford Focus. A Mississippi license plate was found under the driver's seat, which had been altered from "17" to "18."
The driver, who deputies later identified as Phyllis Teegarden, did not have identification on her, but once she gave her name and date of birth, deputies found she had active warrants for her arrest out of Senoia, Ga., and Luthersville, Ga. Deputies identified the passenger as Cody Whitfield and said he also had active warrants, but they said they were not able to confirm which law enforcement agency had those active warrants at that time.
During a search of the SUV, deputies found a purse with methamphetamines and syringes, along with a checkbook and Visa card with the name of a woman living in Tyrone, Ga., listed on them.
Both Teegarden and Whitfield were transported to Piedmont Newnan Hospital for treatment of minor injuries. Whitfield was released after he was treated because there was not a confirmation of an active warrant for him.
Teegarden was charged with possession of methamphetamine, the operation of an unregistered vehicle, insurance requirements for operation of motor vehicles, fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, criminal damage to property second degree, failure to maintain lane, improper turn, brake lights and turn signal required, tail lights required.
She was booked into the Coweta County Jail.
