The Other McCain

"One should either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up." — Arthur Koestler

Dumbest Car Thief Ever?

Posted on | July 3, 2024 | No Comments

Say hello to 29-year-old Charles Millsaps, who had the brilliant idea to (a) steal a 1992 Honda Accord, and then (b) try to outrun the Georgia State Patrol in aforesaid vehicle, with the result that (c) he got locked up in the Chatham County Jail — and never mind the fact that (d) he was already wanted on warrants in South Carolina. The reason I bring this felon to your attention is because I so rarely encounter a white car thief in my coverage of crime. Now, meet the trooper who made the arrest:

Trooper Tyler Byrd has an admirable resumé. He worked his way through college as a manager at Kroger while also serving in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. While attending Georgia Southern University, Byrd did two internships, one in the office of U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter and another with the U.S. Marshall’s Service. After getting his bachelor’s degree in Political Science in 2019, Byrd worked two years as a police officer in Chatham County before becoming a State Trooper in January 2022.

Now read his report of this February 2023 arrest:

On 2/2/2023 at 1104 hours, I was stationary on Interstate 95 south Mile Marker 109. The LPR cameras notified me that a stolen vehicle had hit on the Interstate 95 south Mile Marker 111 as vehicle entered Georgia from South Carolina. The vehicle was described as a 1992 white Honda Accord with a North Carolina tag RAW3837. I looked in my rearview mirror and observed the vehicle in the number three lane. As the vehicle was getting ready to pass me, the vehicle quickly got on the off-ramp onto State Highway 21. I activated my emergency lights and siren for the vehicle to stop. The vehicle stopped on State Highway 21 near Interstate 95; as I opened the driver’s door of my patrol car, the violator immediately took off, initiating a pursuit. I notified Troop F Communications that I was in an active pursuit.
The vehicle drove across all northbound lanes of State Highway 21 and made an improper U-turn at a no U-Turn median, cutting off multiple vehicles going southbound on State Highway 21. As we were south on State Highway 21, the violator drove across multiple lanes of traffic, drove between two cars, and recklessly began to drive through the grass to bypass traffic and get onto the on-ramp to Interstate 95 south. Before the subject could get back onto Interstate 95 and drive recklessly around several other vehicles or get into the city limits of Savannah, I determined that the vehicle must be stopped immediately to safeguard life and preserve public safety. I attempted the PIT maneuver but was unsuccessful. I attempted a second PIT maneuver as we were getting onto Interstate 95; the violator was able to drive out of it. As the vehicle recovered from the second PIT, I utilized the front of my push bumper to make contact with the driver’s side of the violator’s vehicle, causing the vehicle to become disabled.
I exited my patrol vehicle, drew and aimed my department-issued pistol at the driver, and told him to keep his hands up. TPR Gurganus arrived on the scene and drew his department-issued pistol. I went to the passenger side, handcuffed the driver, and had him exit the vehicle. The violator was later identified as Mr. Charles Millsaps by his Florida identification. I searched the driver before placing him in my back seat.
I read him his Miranda Rights and asked him if he understood them and would be willing to speak with me. He said he didn’t know what to say. I asked him if he knew the vehicle was stolen, and he said he didn’t think the owner would call and report it. I observed his speech was sometimes mumbled, and I smelled the odor of marijuana coming off his person and observed his pupils were dilated. I asked him when was the last time he used it, and he said he smoked marijuana 10 to 15 minutes before the chase; I had him stick his tongue out and observed his taste buds were raised. Field sobriety was not conducted because he was handcuffed and risk of fleeing; I told him he would be
charged with DUI. I read him Georgia’s Implied Consent Notice for Suspect Age 21 or over for blood off my green card, and he agreed.
I ran Mr. Millsaps’s identification through NCIC, and it was determined he had a parole warrant out of South Carolina that was confirmed and validated. Mr. Millsaps’s license was also suspended. I transported him to Memorial Hospital to be cleared; he had complaints of a knee injury but was cleared by the nurse and doctor staff. Chatham EMS Captain Samantha Cavicchia met me at Memorial and conducted the blood draw at 1226 hours. After being cleared, Mr. Millsaps was taken to CCDC, where he was turned over to the jail staff for processing.
Cpl. Williams responded and worked the crashes. TPR. Gurganus conducted a vehicle search. Sapp’s Wrecker took possession of the vehicle, which was confirmed stolen. This incident was digitally recorded on the GSP439-Watchguard-4RE camera.

Having read dozens of police reports, I’d say Trooper Byrd’s report of this incident is equal or superior to any such report I’ve ever read, in terms of clarity and syntax — which I suppose might be expected of a university graduate. Watch the video:

 

When I got my first look at the suspect (1:40), my reaction was like, “Damn — a white car thief!” You just don’t see that very often, and I’ve watched hundreds of police videos like this. But then when Trooper Byrd appeared on camera (2:11), I was laughing out loud. How perfect is this?

Anyway, don’t steal cars, but if you do, don’t steal a 30-year-old Honda and then expect to out-run the Georgia State Patrol, because we’re all going to be laughing at the video of the PIT maneuver, dummy.



 

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Category: Crime, Georgia

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