Pursuit Culminates In Arrest Of Drunk Driver

On the evening of May 7th, field training ranger Jay Drinkwater and trainee Doug Briggs attempted to stop a vehicle for speeding near milepost 258. The driver refused to stop, though, and accelerated away, reaching speeds of over 100 mph. He then left the parkway and continued on toward a heavily-traveled area of Tupelo, passing cars in the middle turn lane and going through intersections at a high rate of speed. The vehicle went off the highway and came to a stop about four miles down the road. The rangers conducted a high-risk stop and arrested the driver without incident. He was charged with felony eluding, DUI and numerous other violations. His blood alcohol level was .15, nearly twice the legal limit. He also had two outstanding felony warrants against him from Tupelo PD. This was Briggs’ tenth arrest in only seven days of field training.