By Pat Culverhouse |

A Georgia man is currently a guest of the parish penal system following a failed high-speed attempt to evade a pair of Webster Parish deputies Monday evening.

Sheriff Jason Parker said Albany, Georgia resident Victor Devalt Austin, Jr., 29, was booked for speeding, aggravated flight from an officer and simple criminal damage to property.

Parker said Webster Parish Deputy Michael Dickey caught Austin’s vehicle on radar traveling 91 m.p.h. on Interstate 20 and began pursuit just after 6:30 p.m. The vehicle reportedly exited at the LA Hwy. 532 ramp and pulled over, but sped away as the deputy radioed the traffic stop.

Austin reportedly drove toward Dubberly at speeds up to 100 m.p.h. on Hwy. 532 with the deputy in pursuit. Lt. Colby Barton was nearby and reportedly encountered Austin’s vehicle at the intersection of Hwy. 532 and Hwy. 531.

After turning onto Airport Rd., Austin’s vehicle reportedly stuck a gate that crossed the road, then proceeded to a location toward a wooded area. Austin reportedly fled into the woods, but later emerged and surrendered to deputies around 6:45 p.m.

He reportedly was booked into Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center. No bond has been set.

This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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