Stolen vehicle leads to arrest

In the early morning hours of Jan. 8, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office reportedly received vehicle information from the Mansfield Police Department regarding a stolen vehicle. The vehicle was last seen on Highway 5 south heading toward Ava.
According to a Douglas County Sheriff’s Report, Cpl. Nelson was patrolling on Highway 14 west when he met the suspect vehicle near Highway K.
The vehicle immediately began driving fast upon meeting Cpl. Nelson.
Cpl. Nelson got behind the vehicle and engaged his emergency lights and sirens. A pursuit ensued westbound on W. Highway 14.
Douglas County dispatch then notified the Christian County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies from the Christian County Sheriff’s Office set up spike strips at the west edge of the Sparta City Limits.
The suspect vehicle swerved at vehicles during the entire pursuit almost striking vehicles as it drove through the City of Sparta.
As the suspect vehicle approached the spike strips Christian County deputies had in place, the suspect vehicle began to slow down and attempted to turn around twice.
At this time Cpl. Nelson terminated the pursuit by striking the suspect vehicle in the rear bumper twice. The driver then stopped the vehicle, placed her hands out the window and was taken into custody by Cpl. Nelson.
The driver Janissa Wilson, 29, of Springfield, was found to have illegal narcotics on her person. Wilson was arrested and transported to the Christian County Sheriff’s Office pending pickup by Douglas County transport.
Wilson was currently on probation for tampering with a motor vehicle and possession of a controlled substance.
Wilson was placed on a 24-hour hold where she faces a multitude of felony charges.
Sheriff Degase would like to thank the Christian County Sheriff’s Office, Christian County 911 and the Ava Police Department for their assistance.
Sheriff Degase commends the work of Cpl. Nelson and Dispatcher Brenda Dinwiddie who dispatched this call.