Police say an officer tried to stop a 2009 Dodge Challenger for a traffic violation Sunday around 3:30 p.m. on I-59 North. They say the driver ignored police lights and continued driving recklessly until exiting off the interstate.

 

They say the Challenger eventually collided with a black, 1999 Mercury Cougar, but kept going. Police say they lost sight of the Challenger while attending to victims in the other car involved in that accident.

 

Hattiesburg police say they later found a damaged Challenger abandoned in a Walmart parking lot. They say witnesses reported seeing the driver get out of the damaged car and get into another car. Police later found a 1993 Ford Crown Victoria fitting the second car’s description with three men inside.

 

They say Gradney was one of them and was identified as the driver of the Dodge Challenger. He was later arrested and transported to the Forrest County Regional Jail where he was charged with one count of felony eluding, one count of driving under the influence (other), and one misdemeanor count of possession of marijuana.

 

Officers say a small amount of alleged marijuana was found inside the Dodge Challenger. They say Gradney also has one pending felony charge of aggravated assault with a motor vehicle because of the car crash. The other passengers of the Crown Victoria were questioned and later released.