Whitwell man sought for kidnapping in Marion caught in Dade after multi-county chase

Jimmy D. Morton
Jimmy D. Morton
photo Jimmy D. Morton

After a multi-county pursuit, authorities in Dade County, Ga., have a Whitwell, Tenn., man in custody who was wanted in Marion County in connection with the kidnapping of a woman involved in his felony court case.

Dade County Sheriff Ray Cross said in a Facebook post on the capture that the chase began around 10 p.m. Thursday when 27-year-old Jimmy D. Morton was spotted in a reportedly stolen car by Marion County authorities.

Officers in Marion County then chased Morton onto Interstate 24 and then on to Interstate 59 headed toward Trenton, Cross said.

There, Georgia State Patrol and Trenton Police Department officers joined the case.

"While in the pursuit, the suspect called Dade County 911 and advised he was armed and would kill the officers and then himself," Cross said.

A Georgia trooper successfully ended the chase at the 4 mile-marker using the "PIT" maneuver to disable Morton's vehicle, he said. Morton's car ended up in the median of the interstate where Trenton police hemmed in Morton's vehicle, sustaining slight damage to the patrol cars involved.

There were no injuries, the sheriff said.

Morton faces additional felony and traffic charges in Dade County in addition to his charges in Tennessee, Cross said.

Cross said in the post that he was thankful that all officers and agencies involved were safe and had "worked together in a professional and effective operation."

Contact staff writer Ben Benton at bbenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6569.

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