February 24th, 2023 – 12:00 PM
WBHF Radio –
The Bartow County Sheriff’s Office has reported that on Wednesday at 8:19 AM a law enforcement officer with the Bartow County Sheriff’s Office noticed a white Toyota Camry leaving the Target Parking lot on the wrong side of the highway at a high rate of speed. The officer attempted to stop the vehicle at the intersection of Highway 41 and MLK. The car fled south in the area of Cartersville High School at speeds of 100 miles per hour. The area was “packed with weekday morning traffic.” The officer followed at speeds of 80 miles per hour.
According to the narrative, the Camry switched lanes violently and erratically, passing cars and cutting off traffic recklessly. The vehicle continued southbound in the northbound lanes of Highway 41 before turning left at the entrance of Crest Automotive and Highlands Rivers at 650 Joe Frank Harris Parkway. The driver stopped the vehicle and exited the Camry. Officers made contact with 37-year-old Tracy Jay Mofield, who was holding a small dog. He told officers he was not the person driving the vehicle. However, visual contact was made with Mofield during the chase.
When asked why he fled, Mofield said he was driving to a drug rehabilitation facility in Tennessee. He stopped at the Cartersville Target and shoplifted several items to sell for drugs. The report states that Mofield wanted to feed his addiction before entering the 45-day facility. Mofield told officers that he had a 15-year meth habit but was not currently under the influence of any drugs that affected his judgment. The report states that he seemed disappointed in himself for placing the public in danger through his actions.
Law enforcement recovered the stolen items from Target. They also removed a marijuana grinder, scales, and other drug paraphernalia from the vehicle.
Apparently, Mofield had prescribed medications from Florida. Those drugs are illegal in Georgia.
He was taken to the Bartow County Jail and charged with possession of a schedule I controlled substance, fleeing or attempting to elude an officer, reckless driving, driving on the wrong side of the road, speeding, and failure to obey a traffic control device.
The dog was turned over to Bartow Animal Control.
