Meriwether County deputies arrested 35-year-old Rontravious Porter last Sunday following a high-speed chase and a physical confrontation with a civilian's vehicle, putting an end to a manhunt that began with a traffic stop attempt in the early hours of the morning. Porter, who hails from Albany but had previously resided in Jonesboro, was wanted by Clayton County on multiple charges, including aggravated assault, kidnapping, cruelty to children in the first degree, possession of a weapon during a crime, and criminal damage to property.
The pursuit began when deputies tried to pull over Porter's vehicle around 1:30 a.m. on Alvaton Road, as reported by FOX 5 Atlanta. Porter did not comply, eventually colliding with a patrol car whilst attempting to escape down a dead-end road. Despite the use of Stop Sticks by the deputies, Porter continued to drive with flat tires until his car was forced off the road and through a fence in the Woster area.
According to Atlanta News First, after crashing, Porter took to a wooded area on foot, which resulted in authorities from Meriwether, Coweta, Clayton counties, and the cities of Fayetteville and Fayette County, deploying drones and K-9 units to establish a perimeter and aid the search. In a moment that capped the chase, a drone operator spotted a heat signature near Johns Road and Callaway Road where Porter "launched himself into the driver’s side front windshield and door of the vehicle," as described by the Meriwether County Sheriff.
Deputies arrested Porter following the collision with the civilian vehicle, and he was promptly taken to an Atlanta-area trauma hospital for treatment for injuries sustained. He now faces additional charges in Meriwether County, including two counts of aggravated assault on a peace officer, felony fleeing, and multiple traffic violations, in addition to the charges out of Clayton County.
