A chase that began in Cedartown ended when officers caught up with two suspects – one who also attempted to flee on foot – around Youngs Grove Elementary School on Monday evening, and both men remained behind bars as of this posting.

Cedartown Police reported the arrests of Deonquavious Deshawn Williams, 27, and Tyjah Jhanard Howell, 22, on Monday around 7:45 p.m. after officers tried to pull the pair over for failing to stop at a stop sign at the intersection of Rock and Central streets.

A high-speed pursuit began and officers chased the pair initially stopped in the middle of the intersection, and then carried on toward East Gibson, through the neighborhood as they continued to fail to obey stop signs and onward until he ultimately made it to Highland Avenue, and onward down the road to Jones Street, through the area of Central Street, and finally out to Thompson and MLK Boulevard.

While on Jones Street during the chase, police watched as Williams still behind the wheel grabbed a backpack from the back seat, handed it to Howell, who then tossed it out of the window while officers were still attempting to stop them.

The chase continued into the county territory, onward to Lees Chapel Road, Wooten Road, and finally stopped in the vehicle when the pair crashed at the intersection with Antioch Road near Youngs Grove Elementary School.

One of the officers not expecting the vehicle coming to such a sudden stop was forced to rear-end the suspect car, and police had to chase down the driver on foot after he ran through a small wooded area.

He finally gave up and officers were able to take both driver and passenger in custody.

Georgia State Patrol were called out to work the wreck since it involved a Cedartown Police vehicle. Both men were taken to jail without further incident.

Police did not report whether the backpack was recovered.

Williams, of 908 Hardy Ave., Rome, remained in custody as of this posting with bond denied on a felony charge of tampering with evidence, and misdemeanor charges of littering, 12 counts of failure to stop at a stop sign, 2 counts of failure to use signal, failure to yield while turning left, improper left or right turn, passing on the shoulder of the roadway, two counts of driving on the wrong side of the roadway, and failure to maintain lane.

Howell, of 403 Park St., Cedartown, was charged with a felony for tampering with evidence, and misdemeanors for littering and obstruction of law enforcement officers. He was being held on a $4,500 bond and remained in custody as of this posting.