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Friday, March 29, 2024

Gainesville man driving stolen pickup nabbed after leading deputies on chase

Johnnie Hamilton Long

A Gainesville man found himself behind bars on New Year’s Eve after fleeing from Marion County sheriff’s deputies.

A deputy attempted to stop a stolen pickup truck early Wednesday morning and when the driver refused to pull over, he initiated a pursuit of the vehicle, which eventually crashed through a gate.

The pickup’s driver, 47-year-old Johnnie Hamilton Long, was apprehended after a short foot chase and transported to the Marion County Jail. He was charged with fleeing/eluding with disregard of safety to persons or property, grand theft of a motor vehicle, possession of heroin and driving while license suspended (first offense). He also was charged with two probation violations for prior grand theft charges.

Long was being held on $15,000 bond on the new charges and no bond on the probation violations. He’s due in court Feb. 4 at 9 a.m. and Feb. 5 at 1:30 a.m. to answer to the six charges.