A Cedartown man remained in the Polk County Jail on felony and misdemeanor charges after he went around a roadblock following storms on March 25 and endangered those undertaking cleanup efforts, according to Polk County Sheriff’s Office officials.
Deputies on Tuesday, March 30 arrested Jose Anthony Pineda, 24, of 320 Atlanta St., Cedartown, on felony charges of fleeing or attempting to elude police, and two counts of aggravated assault along with misdemeanor charges of driver must use care to avoid pedestrian, driving while license suspended or revoked and reckless driving.
According to Sheriff’s officials, Pineda was driving in the area of East Point Road when he approached the intersection with Woodall Road and attempted to flag him down to detour him around storm damage caused by a downburst event around 12:30 p.m.
When Pineda failed to stop in the intersection, he then sped up onto East Point Road and weaved in and out of crews who were there helping cleanup damage, including other deputies, Polk County Jail inmates, volunteers and emergency workers on the road.
Deputies took him into custody on Tuesday following the incident in a morning arrest.
Pineda remained in jail as of midday on a $25,000 bond.
