Wild chase involving U-Haul caught on camera ends in dramatic crash, driver in handcuffs

Deputies say it was like something out of a movie.

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By Michele Newell

PAULDING COUNTY, Ga. — A wild chase involving a U-Haul was all caught on a Paulding County deputy’s dash camera.

The video obtained by Channel 2’s Michele Newell shows the U-Haul swerving in and out of traffic and even hitting a car.

The suspect ended up in handcuffs because of what investigators say he did after he saw an officer.

“He started driving recklessly, hitting other cars, running red lights, and he made the mistake of coming to Paulding County,” said Jordan Yuodis with the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office.

That’s what investigators say the man in the U-Haul, Damian Jones, was doing in Cobb County before he made it to Paulding County.

“A Marietta officer turned on his lights and sirens to go to another call, and the guy that was driving his U-Haul truck felt that he was getting pulled over, so he started driving recklessly,” Yuodis said.

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Police alerted other agencies about the U-Haul.

Dash cam video shows the moment a deputy spotted the U-Haul in Paulding County.

“The deputy immediately activated his lights and sirens and started going after the truck; the driver didn’t stop,” Yuodis said.

The U-Haul hit a truck and narrowly missed other cars on the road before a deputy hit the U-Haul to stop it.

“He made sure the road was safe, and there were no other cars around,” Yuodis said.

The U-Haul crashed and flipped onto its side. After deputies smashed the windshield to get the suspect out, they said they found drugs inside.

“We charged him with everything from drug trafficking to reckless driving to speeding you name it,” Yuodis said.

Investigators say Jones was wanted on other crimes in DeKalb County, Monroe County, and New Jersey when deputies arrested him earlier this week.

“Our job ultimately is to stop the threat to keep our community safe; it’s a prime example and textbook example of if you come to Paulding County and fool around, you’re going to find out,” Yuodis said.