Jonathan Coleman

By Zak Failla From Daily Voice

The Thanksgiving holiday took a nasty turn for a 39-year-old driver who wreaked havoc on a Virginia highway while towing a trailer, officials say.

Caroline County resident Jonathan Coleman was arrested on Friday, Nov. 28 after taking members of the Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Office on a wild pursuit that resulted in his trailer being destroyed and an innocent passenger dealing with the damage he caused.

On Friday night, a deputy from the sheriff's office on patrol in the 10200 block of Patriot Highway spotted a truck towing a trailer with an illegal tag - though the driver, later identified as Coleman, had no intention of slowing down, leading to a high-speed pursuit.

According to the sheriff's office, Coleman drove into oncoming traffic and collided with an innocent citizen’s vehicle, striking it with the trailer in tow. Despite significant damage, he continued fleeing and drove into a nearby field, dragging the destroyed trailer behind him, before abandoning the vehicle and fleeing on foot.

He did not get far.

Deputies quickly established a perimeter, and a K-9 team began tracking Coleman, and during the track, they were alerted by a homeowner that a man was hiding in their shed.

"The K-9 team, already in close proximity during the track, responded immediately," officials said. "The suspect was located inside the shed and taken into custody without incident." 

Coleman was arrested and charged with: 

  • Reckless driving;
  • Felony hit-and-run;
  • Felony eluding law enforcement;
  • Possession of drug paraphernalia;
  • Possession of a Schedule I/II narcotic;
  • Driving without a license;
  • Failure to register a vehicle;
  • Expired inspection;
  • Defective equipment.

He was also served with the outstanding Stafford County warrant for probation violation - underlying charge: dangerous drugs.

"Coleman’s selfish decision to flee, rather than responsibly handle an outstanding warrant, placed countless citizens at risk," the sheriff's office said. "An innocent citizen, simply trying to enjoy the holiday weekend, is now left dealing with a damaged vehicle solely because of his reckless behavior." 

"We are grateful no one was injured during this incident and sincerely appreciate the citizen who reported the suspect’s hiding place, playing a key role in his capture."