Man allegedly pulls gun on Sheriff’s Deputy

Alex Poole

A Georgia man, who allegedly attempted to pull a gun on a Whitley County Sheriff’s Deputy as he was being led into the Whitley County Courthouse Wednesday, is being held in the Whitley County Detention Center in lieu of a $10,000 cash bond.

Whitley District Judge Cathy Prewitt entered a not guilty plea Thursday afternoon for Alex L. Poole, 22, of Aragon, Georgia, who is charged with carrying a concealed deadly weapon, resisting arrest, first-degree possession of a controlled substance and possession of marijuana.

Prewitt also entered a not guilty plea and set a $10,000 cash bond for another Georgia man, who was arrested in connection with an earlier incident Wednesday.

Godfary Tyrell Finley, 26, of Rockmart, was charged with leaving the scene of an accident, first-degree wanton endangerment, first-degree criminal mischief and driving with no operator’s license.

Prewitt appointed the public advocate’s office to represent both men and scheduled a June 16 preliminary hearing in their cases.

The incident started about 1 p.m. Wednesday when Sgt. David Lennon and Deputy Cody Harrell responded to an call about "alarming and dangerous behavior" by a motorist in the Meadow Creek area, Sheriff Colan Harrell wrote in a release.

Before Sgt. Lennon or others arrived, the suspect had left the area.

A resident of that area stated that while she was driving, Finley drove his vehicle, a Mitsubishi Eclipse, into her vehicle multiple times.

Also, Finley contacted Whitley County 911 apparently claiming he was being followed, Harrell said.

Lennon encountered the suspect’s vehicle along Highway 779, which is also known as Brown’s Creek Road. There, he observed Finley walking towards the vehicle, according to the release.

Lennon and Deputy Harrell attempted to question Finley, whose behavior was alarming. Finley told deputies he did not know his name, and he possessed no form of identification, Sheriff Harrell wrote.

Finley told police that his vehicle had run out of gas when attempting to evade cars that were allegedly chasing him, but police found no evidence to support that claim, Sheriff Harrell said.

Deputy Harrell transported Finley to the sheriff’s department to be assessed by Whitley County EMS. 

A search of Finley’s vehicle revealed his name, and a nation-wide search indicated he was wanted out of Georgia for forgery.

A search using the vehicle’s information revealed it was registered to Poole, who was not located at the scene. 

After Whitley County EMS medically cleared Finley, he admitted that he was wanted out of Georgia and had attempted to conceal his real identity because he was aware of his fugitive status, Harrell said.

Finley was questioned about the vehicle’s owner, Poole. He stated that at some point between Georgia and Kentucky Poole jumped out of the vehicle along Interstate 75. 

Sheriff Harrell said that neither Finley not Poole indicated why Poole exited the vehicle, but Harrell said he has his doubts that Poole literally jumped out of a moving vehicle along I-75.

About 2:20 p.m., while Finley was being questioned at the sheriff’s department, Whitley Co. 911 advised there was a subject walking northbound on I-75 near the 4 mile marker.

The subject was wearing white shorts and no shirt, which was consistent with a description of Poole. 

Lennon located the subject just north of the five-mile marker. That subject admitted he was Alex Poole. At that time, Sgt. Lennon conducted a cursory search of the subject and transported him to the sheriff’s department for questioning. 

Harrell said that at the time Poole wasn’t under arrest so the only type of search deputies were allowed to do was a cursory search, which is very minor.

As Poole was being led into the courthouse, he attempted to pull from his shorts a concealed and loaded pistol .22 caliber pistol, Harrell said.

A short struggle ensued, and Lennon disarmed and secured Poole.

Harrell said that he doesn’t know why Poole attempted to pull out the gun at that particular time, and he credited Lennon’s "awareness" of the situation for disarming Poole before anyone was injured.

A further search revealed that the Poole possessed about 30 grams of a white crystal substance believed to be methamphetamine and a small amount of what’s believed to be marijuana, according to the release.

More charges could be added as the investigation continues.

Both men were lodged in the Whitley County Detention Center.