Williams faces more charges following 120-mhp pursuit

More charges have been filed in the case of a 120-mph chase that went through three counties Wednesday evening and investigation is still continuing, according to Sheriff Jimmy Edwards.

The driver of the suspect vehicle, Richard Williams, 44, of CR 180 in the Blue Springs area, has been charged so far with felony fleeing, having no tag, no proof of insurance and driving under the influence of other than alcohol.

Williams is wanted in Pontotoc County for trafficking in methamphetamine and Edwards said they had learned the Mississippi Department of Corrections may want to place a hold on him as well.

“We’ve had him here several times,” the sheriff said, adding he thinks Union County also has a current warrant on him for failure to appear in court.

Edwards said Thursday morning that the passenger, Ginger Williams, 43, of the same address, had not been charged in Union County but she is wanted in Pontotoc County for sale of methamphetamine.

The sheriff added that the male may face an additional charge based on what the female says in an interview with investigators. He said it appeared she was trying to get out of the vehicle during the pursuit but the driver was holding her by the hair and would not let go.

“I’m going to talk with the D.A. and, depending on what she says, that might qualify as kidnapping or another charge,” he said.

There was brief confusion concerning the female suspect’s name because she was initially booked as Ginger Coleman. However, officers said she told them that she and Williams are married and her name now is Ginger Williams; Coleman is still the name on her driver’s license.

Even if Ginger Williams is not charged here, Pontotoc County will come and get her to answer their charges.

Richard Williams was expected to go before a judge Thursday but bond was unlikely given the charges involved, history and because MDOC apparently wants him.

The incident Thursday began as a traffic stop when deputies tried to pull over a white Camaro with no tag near the intersection of County Roads 188 and 193 in the Fairfield community in the eastern part of the county.

Instead of stopping, the suspect pulled away with increasing speed. Deputies pursued.

“They went into Lee County, back into Union County, Lee County, Prentiss County, Brice’s Crossroads and, finally Baldwyn,” he said. “They were over 120 miles an hour a couple of times.”

Union County deputies were joined by MHP Troopers and Baldwyn police. Once the pursuit left the highway and got into heavier traffic in the Baldwyn area, the car slowed down and was eventually hemmed in by several patrol cars, the sheriff said.

The two were taken into custody without further incident and no one was hurt in the chase.

No narcotics were found in the car, but if either suspect had any drugs they could easily have been tossed out during the chase, he said.