Two arrested in separate Lee County chases in one night
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- Javonta Williams arrested after fleeing traffic stop near Columbus Parkway; charged with DUI, drug possession, and eluding police.
- Lawanda Jenkins arrested after 23-mile pursuit on Highway 280; charged with receiving stolen property and attempting to elude police.
Two people are in the Lee County Jail on charges following two separate chases in one night.
Opelika Pursuit
Around 10:35 p.m. central time on Saturday, May 2, 2025, Lee County deputies initiated a traffic stop on a BMW near Columbus Parkway and Interstate 85.
The driver fled, and the chase came to an end near the intersection of Fox Run Parkway and McCoy Street.
The driver was taken into custody by law enforcement. The driver, identified by jail records as Javonta Williams, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, tampering with physical evidence, possession of marijuana, possession of a controlled substance and attempting to elude a law enforcement officer. Williams is being held on a bond of $17,000.
Opelika Police Department assisted in the pursuit. His mugshot was not available on the Lee County Jail website.
Highway 280 Pursuit
Hours later, around 12:40 a.m. central standard time on Sunday, May 3, 2026, Lee County deputies initiated a traffic stop on a white Mercedes on Interstate 85 North near Columbus Parkway.
The driver fled all the way down U.S. Highway 280 eastbound from the Opelika city limits to Phenix City, an approximately 23 mile long pursuit.
The driver eventually crashed near the intersection of Crawford Road and U.S. Highway 280 near the Walgreens.
Agencies assisting in the pursuit included the Opelika Police Department, the Phenix City Police Department and the Russell County Sheriff’s Office.
The driver was taken into custody by law enforcement. The driver, identified by jail records as Lawanda Jenkins, 43, was charged with receiving stolen property first degree and attempting to elude a law enforcement officer. Jenkins is being held on a $15,000 bond.
Her mugshot was available on the Lee County Jail website.
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