Police: Suspect dumped pot after high speed chase

A high speed chase through the streets of Fairburn ended when police arrested a man who crashed his car, then dumped a large bag of marijuana in a parking lot, authorities said.

Fairburn police set up a safety checkpoint on Fayetteville Road near Goodson Road on Thursday afternoon. A man driving a blue Lexus handed over his license, but when an officer questioned him about the smell of marijuana in his car he sped off, police said.

Officers said the car, driven by Carl Lingham Jr., reached speeds of 100 mph before striking a large railroad control box near Roberts Street and Highway 29.

Lingham ran from the scene and dumped a large plastic bag containing marijuana in the parking lot of a nearby business before he was apprehended, police said.

Lingham is charged with fleeing and eluding, reckless driving and possession of marijuana.