An Augusta felon and drug trafficker caused chaos in Columbia County on Friday with a low-speed chase and wreck near Grovetown.
Brendon Alexander Daniels, 24, is facing a long list of charges in the wreck, which tied up traffic and led to a large police response on Lewiston Road and William Few Parkway.
Authorities say the incident stemmed from an argument between two drivers. An investigation revealed new details into the day’s events.
A dark-colored Dodge Challenger was reported chasing a white Cadillac on Lewiston Road towards Columbia Road, with reports of possible gunfire. Law enforcement swiftly responded, and a confrontation ensued in the Food Lion parking lot.
Deputies were able to make contact with the vehicles, resulting in the Challenger attempting to flee. The pursuit continued south on Lewiston Road until it collided with a red Mitsubishi at the intersection of William Few, following a red light violation. The suspect, later identified as Daniels, abandoned the vehicle and fled into a wooded area behind Classic Collision.
After a brief search, authorities successfully located and apprehended Daniels. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) were called to evaluate Daniels for a possible asthma attack, and he was subsequently transported to Doctors Hospital for further assessment.
The victim, Kelvin Paige, told authorities that the incident began at Walmart on Steiner Way, where Daniels allegedly attempted to rob him at gunpoint. Paige managed to escape, leading to the high-speed pursuit. He claimed not to know Daniels personally and was uncertain if shots were fired during the chase.
Daniels insisted that he knew Paige and alleged that the motive behind the pursuit was a debt owed to him. K9 units were deployed to search for the firearm used in the robbery, eventually recovering it in the Food Lion parking lot. Additionally, narcotics units were called to the scene after drugs were discovered in Daniels’ vehicle.
Daniels is a career criminal who has been charged with dealing drugs multiple times in Richmond County since he was a teenager, but was always given a slap on the wrist for the distribution charges. He had two stints in Georgia prison, including for drug trafficking out of Newton County and other theft and obstruction charges in Richmond County. He was last released from prison in September 2022.
Since his youth, he has been charged with dealing cocaine, meth and marijuana. Other charges include commercial gambling, possession of a pistol by someone under 18, weapon possession, theft by receiving stolen property, obstruction and reckless driving.
