Rockdale Citizen

COVINGTON -- A man who fled a high speed chase after a wreck in Newton County Friday night, showed up in Rockdale County Saturday morning and reported the vehicle involved in the crash as stolen.

RCSO deputies went to 2333 Rock Mill Lane and found several things that made them suspicious of the man's story of a missing vehicle.

Deputies were met by Jafney Thelusma who told them he'd spent the night with his girlfriend at the Rock Mill Lane address and that her mother had just come inside and told him his Jaguar was missing. He said he'd last seen it between 7 and 8 p.m. Friday when he arrived at the location.

Deputies discovered that another vehicle that was on location had an expired registration; Thelusma's license came back suspended; and they had been alerted that a vehicle similar to the one Thelusma claimed was stolen from him had been involved in a drive-by shooting in Newton County. They soon confirmed that Thelusma was wanted by the Newton County Sheriff's Office and detained him until the NCSO could send someone for him.

The NCSO contends that Thelusma, 20, of 320 Bridges Way, was driving his Jaguar around western Newton County Friday around 11 p.m. at a high rate of speed and firing a gun.

He has been arrested and charged with aggravated assault, driving while license is suspended, reckless driving and fleeing and attempting to elude. Rockdale authorities will issue charges against Thelusma for false statements/writings in connection with the report of the car theft.

According to NCSO spokesman Lt. Keith Crum, two deputies were in the area of Gross Lake Parkway and the Enclave neighborhood looking for a suspect that had pulled a gun on someone on Greenleaf Road.

"They were at 30 Gross Lake Parkway and saw a green Jaguar S-type at the leasing office of the Orchard Cove apartments and heard a single gunshot and then heard several more shots and saw the vehicle accelerate away rapidly," Crum said.

The deputies began to pursue the vehicle which was racing through the neighborhood, reaching speeds up to 90 mph.

"He ended up losing control and wrecking at Hinton Circle and Hinton Chase Parkway," Crum said. "The driver got out and ran. The K9 Unit was called in but was unable to locate him."

Investigators came out to process the scene and in talking with witnesses, Crum said it was discovered that a security guard at an apartment complex had seen the person driving the Jaguar traveling at a high rate of speed through the complex and confronted him.

"The security guard said the subject flashed gang signs at him and told him he ran Covington. He then fired shots at him and sped away," Crum said, adding that the security guard was unhurt and did not return fire.

With the suspect's car impounded, NCSO investigators determined they were looking for Thelusma and posted that information on GCIC.

Crum said the investigation into Thelusma's activities is continuing and further charges may be forthcoming.