HART COUNTY, GA — A South Carolina man was jailed after leading deputies on a dangerous late-night pursuit that ended on Interstate 85 near the Georgia-South Carolina state line.
The incident began shortly before midnight on Friday, August 22. According to the Hart County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were conducting a safety checkpoint at the new four-way stop on Lavonia Highway at Providence Church Road when a Honda Ridgeline fled from the intersection.
Hart County Sheriff Chris Carroll said deputies attempted a traffic stop, but the driver, later identified as Michael Gibert of Anderson, SC, refused to pull over. He led deputies on a pursuit north on Providence Church Road before merging onto I-85 North toward South Carolina.
“As deputies prepared to terminate the pursuit near the state line bridge, the Ridgeline struck another vehicle,” the Sheriff said. “Thankfully, no injuries were reported and only minor damage occurred.”
Authorities took the 53-year-old Gibert into custody without further incident. They booked him into the Hart County Jail on multiple charges, including felony fleeing, DUI, driving on a suspended license, reckless driving, criminal attempt to possess marijuana, open container, speeding, and failure to stop at a stop sign.
Carroll said Gibert had active warrants out of Hart County and Anderson County. He praised his deputies for their professionalism and safe resolution of what he called a “dangerous situation.”
