On Tuesday, at approximately 5:30 pm, Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office personnel were alerted to a stolen vehicle from a hit on their Automatic License Plate Reader (ALPR) while driving south on I-75 near Highway 153. 

The HCSO deputy followed the vehicle as they traveled down East Brainerd Road to Hickory Valley Road.  The vehicle then turned into the Arden Landing Apartment Homes and stopped in a parking space.  At this time, the HCSO Deputy attempted a traffic stop. The driver and right rear passenger both complied with the commands from the deputy, however the front passenger did not.  

While conducting the stop, the front passenger exited the vehicle and began to walk away, saying “He was at home.”  A bystander attempted to stop the suspect but was unsuccessful as he began to run away.  The rear passenger was then detained and additional HCSO units began searching the area.  

The suspect that fled was shortly located and detained along with the others.  

In car video was reviewed and showed the suspect exited the vehicle with a gray plastic shopping bag. After a brief search was conducted, the bag was located along the same route the suspect had fled.  

Located inside the bag was the following:  80.7 Grams of Methamphetamine, 19 Grams of Marijuana, 18.2 Grams of blue pills (suspected Fentanyl), 60.6 Grams of crack cocaine, and $725 in Cash.

The driver identified as Suzanne Ramey (Born May 1998) was charged with the following: Theft of Property (Possession of Stolen Vehicle).

The suspect that attempted to flee was identified as Caderius Word (Born November 1997) and was charged with the following: Three counts of a Controlled Substance for Resale, Possession of Meth for Resale, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Tampering with Evidence, and Evading Arrests.

“This incident is yet another positive example of how the HCSO is successfully utilizing ALPR technology to improve the efficiency of our law enforcement operations and deter criminal activity in Hamilton County,” Sheriff Austin Garrett said. “It is my vision for this agency to continue to lead the way in the utilization of technology-based practices as we seek to keep our community safe and provide the highest, most efficient level of services to the citizens we so proudly serve.”