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2 charged after high-speed chase
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A 25-year-old Cumming man faces drug and traffic charges in Dawson and Forsyth counties following a late-night, high-speed chase that spanned nearly 30 miles.According to the Dawson County Sheriff’s Office, Andrew Michael Waters has been charged with possession of methamphetamine, a felony.The traffic violations in both counties range from fleeing or attempting to elude officers and reckless driving to speeding and driving on the wrong side of the road. He also was cited for not stopping at stop signs and failure to maintain lane.During a first appearance hearing in Magistrate Court on Monday afternoon, Waters’ bond was set at $40,000 with several restrictions.Forsyth authorities have also placed a hold on Waters for warrants they secured after the pursuit, which reportedly topped speeds of 100 mph.As of Tuesday afternoon, Waters remained at the Dawson County Detention Center, as did his 19-year-old passenger, Breanna Paige Haynes, also of Cumming.Haynes, whose bond has been set at $10,000, has been charged with felony possession of methamphetamine.The pursuit began about 3 a.m. Sunday, when a Dawson County Sheriff’s deputy attempted to stop a 1996 Ford Ranger for a taillight violation and expired tag on Ga. 136/Price Road near Cothran Road.According to authorities, the driver — later determined to be Waters — drove across Ga. 400, circled back from Price Road to the highway and headed south. He then entered Forsyth and made several turns attempting to elude deputies before cutting over to Hopewell Road.From there, reports said, he traveled back into Dawson, where he lost control of the pickup, spun out and crashed into the grassy median at Dawson Forest Road.According to authorities, Waters and Haynes may have been attempting to discard drugs during the foiled getaway.“We believe they were trying to get rid of the methamphetamine,” said Dawson County Sheriff’s Lt. Tony Wooten.