Rockdale Citizen

CONYERS - It is said that getting to your destination is half the fun; but for friends of a Newton County man, it meant becoming a part of a high-speed chase with Rockdale County Sheriff's Office deputies.The chase began in Conyers and reportedly reached speeds near 100 mph on Interstate 20 before the driver was stopped in Newton County on Sunday morning. William Matthew Womack, 26, of 397 Ga. Highway 212 in Covington was charged with four counts of kidnapping, loitering and prowling, reckless driving, fleeing and attempting to elude law enforcement officers and driving with a suspended license.According to the incident report filed by RCSO Deputy Robert E. Wilson, the chase began in front of the Texaco convenience store at the corner of Klondike and Johnson roads about 5 a.m. Sunday. Wilson said he saw two individuals in black jackets walk up to the door of the store and suddenly turn around and then enter a gold-colored Cadillac Deville.The deputy became suspicious, so he turned on his blue lights and began to pursue the vehicle. The Cadillac then drove off at a high rate of speed, he said.The car began heading east on I-20, then exited onto Salem Road where the driver started traveling south. The Newton County Sheriff's Office was notified of the pursuit and deputies picked up the car chase as the vehicle continued past Kirkland Road.Newton County authorities said one of the passengers in the Cadillac called from his cell phone and advised the deputy that he wanted to get out of the car but the driver would not stop, the report said.Newton County authorities stopped the car at 13980 Brown Bridge Road about 20 minutes after the chase began and contacted the RCSO deputies.At the scene, the passengers - a woman and three men - said they were just getting a ride from Womack. All told the deputies they urged Womack to stop the car several times during the chase, according to the incident report.Womack allegedly told deputies he had a suspended license. He said he panicked and drove off when he saw the deputy's blue lights because he did not want to go to jail, the report said.Womack remained in the Rockdale County Jail on Wednesday under a $40,000 bond, according to jail officials.Jay Jones can be reached at jay.jones@rockdalecitizen.com.