High Speed Chase Ends with arrest

James Andrews Sims, Jr., 36, Douglas

On Thursday, April 24, 2025, deputies with the Coffee County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) were involved in a high-speed pursuit that began with a routine traffic stop. At approximately 8:25PM, a deputy observed a vehicle traveling without headlights after dark [which is a chargeable offense in the state of Georgia] and attempted to initiate a stop.

Initially, the driver appeared compliant. However, a passenger fled the vehicle on foot, and moments later, the driver accelerated away, initiating a pursuit. Deputies pursued the suspect along Highway 221, crossing onto Highway 32 through Nicholls, before the suspect turned and headed back toward Douglas city limits.

During the pursuit, deputies employed multiple law enforcement tactics to ensure the safety of the public and officers, including the deployment of spike strips. When those efforts proved unsuccessful, a controlled low-speed Precision Immobilization Technique (P.I.T.) maneuver was executed. The pursuit was safely brought to an end without injuries or further incident.

The driver, identified as 36-year-old James Andrew Sims Jr., was found to be operating the vehicle with a suspended license, a violation of O.C.G.A. 40-5-121. Sims has a documented history of driving with suspended and revoked licenses dating back to 2018 and has been associated with numerous offenses that pose a risk to public safety.

Following the pursuit, Sims was transported to Coffee Regional Medical Center for medical evaluation and was subsequently booked into the Coffee County Pre-Trial Detention Center. He is charged with multiple offenses under Georgia law, including:

• Passing on the shoulder of a roadway (O.C.G.A. 40-6-43)
• Reckless driving (O.C.G.A. 40-6-390)
• Speeding in excess of maximum limits (O.C.G.A. 40-6-181)
• Fleeing or attempting to elude a law enforcement officer (O.C.G.A. 40-6-395)
• Failure to maintain lane (O.C.G.A. 40-6-48)
• Failure to obey traffic-control devices (O.C.G.A. 40-6-20)
• Failure to stop at a stop sign (O.C.G.A. 40-6-72)
• Driving while license suspended or revoked (O.C.G.A. 40-5-121)
• Passing in a no-passing zone (O.C.G.A. 40-6-46)

Sims remains in custody at this time.

Sheriff Cole commended the deputies involved for their professionalism and commitment to public safety, stating, "Our deputies acted decisively and appropriately to bring a dangerous situation to a safe conclusion. Their efforts prevented what could have been a tragic outcome for innocent motorists and the citizens of Coffee County."