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A fleeing suspect tried to ditch this contraband by throwing it out his car window, but Greene County Sheriff Donnie Harrison recovered it. CONTRIBUTED
A Conyers man who tossed a book bag full of marijuana out of his car during a pursuit, hoping to avoid a drug charge, was arrested for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute after Sheriff Donnie Harrison later found it.
Van Lee Harmon, 42, will also face a felony charge of fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer.
According to reports, Greene County Deputy Matthew Cowdrey was patrolling I-20 at approximately 12:33 p.m. April 1 when he spotted a gray Ford impeding the flow of traffic as it headed westbound at speeds well below the posted speed limit.
Cowdrey initiated a traffic stop, but when he exited his patrol car and approached the vehicle sitting on the shoulder with its brake lights on, Harmon sped away.
Cowdrey gave chase and the car quickly reached speeds more than 100 mph. As the pursuit passed milepost 134, Lt. Patrick Paquette joined the pursuit. According to Cowdrey’s account, Harmon continued fleeing at speeds exceeding 110 mph, while using the median to pass other vehicles as it crossed the county line.
After entering Morgan County, Georgia State Patrol Trooper Darquavious Anthony joined the pursuit.
Cowdrey said he saw Harmon throw what appeared to be a cell phone out the window of the vehicle.
As the pursuit approached milepost 126, Anthony took the primary position in the pursuit and executed a successful PIT maneuver near milepost 124.5, which brought the vehicle to a stop on the shoulder of the roadway.
Police reports indicate Harmon was removed from the vehicle without further incident and taken into custody.
According to Cowdrey, a search of the vehicle was performed due to an overwhelming odor of marijuana inside. However, no marijuana was found, but dispatch later advised the deputies a witness to the pursuit called in and said she saw a blue-andgreen backpack thrown from the vehicle onto the shoulder of I-20 near milepost 135.
Sheriff Harrison was able to find the backpack and said it contained a large amount of marijuana, which turned about to be approximately two pounds.
When Cowdrey returned and met with Harrison at the Greene County Sheriff’s Office, they examined the backpack for further evidence.
According to reports, the odor of marijuana was detected coming from inside of the backpack and a search of it revealed five plastic bags containing marijuana along with multiple empty marijuana dispensary bags.
Contact was made with the witness, who confirmed her previous statement to dispatch.