DAHLONEGA, Ga. – Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Diesel helped deputies apprehend Joshua Tharp last week and confiscate a quantity of methamphetamine, counterfeit $100 bills and a weapon after a high-speed chase on Cleveland Highway and Mt. Zion Church Road.

Deputy Damon Nix spotted Tharp’s Chrysler Sebring. The tag reader system identified the owner as having a warrant out of White County. Nix attempted to stop the vehicle which then increased speed and began to flee northbound on Cleveland Highway.

The vehicle then turned left onto Mt. Zion Church Road and the driver tossed a black bag out the window before pulling into a private driveway and fleeing on foot into a heavily wooded area.

Deputy Morgan and his K9 Diesel located the suspect who refused to comply until he was advised the K9 would be released and would bite. He was then handcuffed and transported to the Lumpkin County Detention Center.

In searching Tharp, Nix found a syringe that contained suspected methamphetamine and a green leafy substance suspected to be marijuana.

Diesel was also able to locate the suitcase thrown from the vehicle which contained suspected crystal meth, an electronic scale, eight suspected counterfeit $100 bills.

A female in the Tharp vehicle was identified as Justice Dermire. She was transported to the Lumpkin County Detention Center. Another male in the vehicle could not be located.

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