EUTAW-A local Eutaw resident, who thought he was Mr. Toad from “The Wind in the Willows,” led the Greene County Sheriff’s Department on a ‘wild ride’ Sunday through Greene County that involved one deputy, the sheriff, and five Alabama State Troopers.

Greene County Sheriff Johnny Isaac said Nehemiah K Johnson, 30 of Eutaw led Deputy Aaron Malone, along with a host of other law enforcement personnel on a 30-mile high-speed chase through Greene County. Malone was responding to a call about a house fire on U.S. Hwy 11 N, when he saw a car traveling at a high rate of speed and he turned to pursue the car, but the car wouldn’t pull over.

“Malone followed the car through Snotty and the Zodiac Club’s parking lot eventually the suspect jumped out of the car and ran on foot,” Isaac said, “We weren’t about to capture him at this time, but we did tow his car back to the station.”

Malone, five State Troopers, and myself all assisted during the search for the suspect, but to no avail, he said. A little while later, Johnson was back in the City of Eutaw and made a phone call to the Eutaw Police Department to report his car stolen.

“He called the Eutaw police to try and cover his tracks, but he must have forgotten his prior warrants that the police had for fleeing/eluding,” Isaac said.

The an officer with the Eutaw Police went to take a report from Johnson and then placed him under arrest for his previous warrants, he said. The county also charged him with criminal mischief, reckless driving, flee/attempt to elude, and reckless endangerment.

“Deputy Malone was able to spot the driver, so he knew it was Johnson,” Isaac said.

Once the vehicle was towed into the station, they found the presence of a firearm (gun shells) and the presence of drugs, he said. Johnson is currently in the Greene County jail awaiting a bond hearing.