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Senoia man leads police on wild, high-speed chase, again
Justin Dwayne Rivers is accused of leading police on a high-speed chase, but it is not his first time doing so. Twice before he's done it and twice before he was caught, police said. Four years ago, investigators said he led officers on a chase that traveled 20 miles and cross three counties at speeds topping 100 mph.
SENOIA, Ga - A Senoia man with a history of leading police on high-speed chases has once again been arrested for doing just that, police said.
Justin Dwayne Rivers, 33, was charged with leaving the scene of an accident with injury/death, fleeing from police, and failure to maintain lanes.
Senoia Police body cam video of Justin Rivers behind the wheel of a pickup truck seconds before he drove off from officers on May 2, 2022. (Senoia Police Department)
Senoia police released body camera and dash cam video of the most recent incident, which occurred on May 2 along Barnes Street. Police said a Senoia school resource officer spotted Rivers driving his red F-150, ran the plate, and found out the owner had outstanding warrants in Spalding County.
During a traffic stop, Rivers was seen on camera appearing to cooperate until a second officer showed up at the scene. In the video, Rivers is seen sticking a cigarette in his mouth before putting the vehicle in gear and speeding away. The officers scrambled to their patrol cars and gave chase.
Senoia police officers scramble after a driver took off during a traffic stop on May 2, 2022. (Senoia Police Department)
Police said Rivers ran a stop sign as he got onto Highway 16. With no signs of stopping, police said he struck another car near Highway 16 and 85. That driver was not injured.
The chase continued until the truck entered the 1600 block of Highway 85. There, the truck turned off the roadway and into the woods. Police said Rivers stopped the truck, but didn’t put the truck in park or put on the parking brake. The pickup truck then slid back into the pursuing patrol car that pulled in behind it, causing significant damage.
Senoia police pursue Justin Rivers, who investigators say took off during a traffic stop on May 2, 2022. (Senoia Police Department)
Rivers abandoned the vehicle along with his passenger and ran from the scene.
"So, the perimeter was set up pretty quickly, and we sent out a request for K9 assistance and both the Coweta County Sheriff’s Office and the Grantville Police Department responded with K9s," said Senoia Police Captain Jason Ercole. "And one the K9s were on the ground, they were able to sniff out the suspect pretty quickly."
Rivers was hiding in some pine straw and was quickly taken into custody. He was booked in the Coweta County Jail on $13,500. Police said if he pays his bond there, he’ll be transferred to Spalding County Jail to face numerous drug trafficking charges, fleeing to elude police, reckless driving, and street gang charges.
Rivers made headlines in 2018 for running from police. A Lamar County deputy tried to pull him over, and again he allegedly took off then as well. As FOX 5 reported then, the chase lasted 20 miles, three counties and ended when he wrecked the stolen car he was accused of driving.