Man Charged With Fleeing Arrest During Traffic Stop

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CARTERSVILLE, GA -- A North Carolina man has been arrested and charged in connection with his decision to flee during a traffic stop in Cartersville.

Officers with the agency conducted the stop for equipment violation on U.S. 411 at S.R. 20 just after midnight Tuesday, March 15.

According to the agency, the passenger in the back of the vehicle appeared to be "shaking" and "visibly nervous."

After he was identified, it was confirmed that the man -- Hunter Jewel Nichols, 23, of Asheboro, North Carolina -- had an outstanding warrant for felony fleeing and eluding police.

Officers placed Nichols under arrest, and his hands were put in handcuffs behind his back. Nichols was placed in the back of a marked patrol vehicle.

"Mr. Nichols requested that he be driven past his house, which was declined, but the officer did walk back to the suspect’s vehicle to retrieve a cell phone so that Mr. Nichols had the telephone numbers to contact his family," the agency said.

At that moment, Nichols allegedly pulled his cuffed hands to his front, climbed out of the rear window of the patrol vehicle and fled on foot.

Nichols could not be located at that time, but police detectives were able to obtain information that led to a home on Gilreath Road where officers believed the suspected was located.

Nichols was subsequently located inside a wall at the home. Cartersville police say he still had handcuffs on his wrists, but the chains had been snapped in half.

Police charged Nichols with escape, theft by taking, interference with government property and obstruction of an officer. He remains at the Bartow County Jail without bond.

Additionally, two Cartersville residents at the home -- Brittany Nichole Blakely, 27, and Angela Maria O'Hare, 37, have been charged with one count each of hindering apprehension or punishment of a criminal. O'Hare was also booked on charges of failure to appear and probation violation.

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Photo 1: Hunter Jewel Nichols
Photo 2: Brittany Nichole Blakely
Photo 3: Angela Maria O'Hare
Photo credits: Bartow County Sheriff's Office