Intoxicated driver crashes stolen car during police chase

Willie Joe Sims Jr.

By Joe Johnson

An Athens man was recently arrested after leading police on a chase in a stolen car that ended when he crashed into a utility pole.

The incident happened on the afternoon of January 4th when 51-year-old Willie Joe Sims Jr. drove a Hyundai Sonata through a stop sign at Nellie B Avenue and Fairview Street,

A police officer who witnessed the infraction attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but Sims ended up leading the officer and other police on a chase that didn’t end until he tried passing a marked police car on Carver Drive and crashed into a power pole.

During the pursuit Sims drove at high speeds through neighborhoods with lots of children and pedestrians about, and disregarding stop signs along the way.

After the crash police found a bottle of gin inside the wrecked Hyundai and an open can of beer. When searched Sims was found in possession of a firearm

crack pipe.

When contacted by police the registered owner of the Hyundai told police that he thought the vehicle was in his driveway and wanted to report it stolen.

Sims was arrested for felony theft, DUI, open containers of alcohol in a vehicle, fleeing and eluding police, possession of drug objects, reckless driving and several other traffic offenses.

On Tuesday he continued to be jailed in lieu of bonds totaling $5,450.