Police chase ends in Cleveland square crash

Thanksgiving eve was anything but peaceful for local law enforcement as deputies crossed county lines in the pursuit of a Dahlonega man in a chase that totaled a patrol car and ended with a crash on Cleveland’s downtown square.
Levi William Flake, 27, was arrested on the scene as his Jeep rested on its side at The Rustic Rooster Emporium and at the foot of a metal sasquatch sculpture.
Just after 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 24 Flake reportedly got into a violent altercation with an acquaintance at an Arthur Seabolt Road home, according to reports from the White County Sheriff’s Office.
“During the altercation Flake stabbed the victim and then fled the residence prior to the Sheriff’s Office arrival,” stated LCSO Sheriff Stacy Jarrard in an email to The Nugget.
An alert was sent to be on the lookout for Flake’s silver Jeep Wrangler, which was soon spotted by Lumpkin County Coroner Mark Cox heading west on Cleveland Highway. Word was relayed to Officer George Albert Jr. who attempted to pull over Flake only to have the suspect accelerate to over 75 miles per hour, according to reports.
Deputy Cheyne Jones joined the chase and attempted to slow down Flake by boxing him in and decelerating. At this Flake reportedly stepped on the gas and hit the back of the patrol car.
“The Jeep accelerated and struck Deputy Jones’ vehicle,” said Jarrard.
This reportedly pushed Jones’ vehicle off the roadway and down an embankment.
As Albert and fellow officer Noah Denard continued to pursue the Jeep, Flake reportedly began throwing items out of his vehicle.
That included “full drinks and a box of loose items,” stated Albert in the report.
LCSO deputies backed off as Flake approached downtown Cleveland and WCSO deputies took the lead from there, said Jarrard.
It was on the square that the chase came to a sudden halt when Flake’s Jeep struck a Chevy Impala, lost control and flipped several times, according to reports.
“After impact, [the vehicle] overturned and struck a DOT cross walk sign and struck the The Rustic Rooster Shop,” stated a Georgia Sate Patrol report.
Flake was immediately apprehended and escorted across the square to an awaiting patrol car.
The WCSO has since charged him with aggravated assault, reckless driving, fleeing and attempting to elude and several other traffic related charges. He will then face additional charges in Lumpkin County, said Jarrard, which include aggravated assault against a police officer.
“I hate that it happened,” said Jarrard. “And I hate that people were put in danger…but you have to get those people off the roadway. When someone has stabbed someone else you never know the mindset of what's going on with the suspect. So that does justify the chase to arrest him.”
According to reports no one was severely injured in the wreck on the square or the patrol car accident. The victim of the stabbing did not suffer life threatening injuries either.
The day after the accident the 2-D sasquatch sculpture was back in place, upright and wearing a makeshift leg cast.