LOWNDES CO., Ga. – At 5:15 a.m. Lowndes County Sheriff Ashley Paulk wasn’t looking for trouble but he found some.

“I was right in front of Covingtons’ southbound on Patterson Street,” Sheriff Paulk said. “This guy in front of me had no tail lights, so I put on my blue lights and they proceeded to run on me.”

The car had an Alabama tag, Sheriff Paulk said.

“I was just gonna stop him and be cordial and tell him to fix his taillights and he took off,” Sheriff Paulk added. “Pursued all the way to Dasher City Hall, where he finally pulled over, but when I got up to him he pulled off again, made a loop around the Dasher municipal building, got on 41 and went north.”

By that time, Paulk said, other deputies got involved.

“We pitted him at Mud Creek Bridge,” Paulk said. “I didn’t have a push bumper on my car so I waited on somebody to get there. Nobody was hurt but he’s up in the Lowndes County Jail.”

Sheriff Paulk, who said he worked a calm Christmas night, hadn’t expected to be in a 120 mph chase with a car thief, but that’s what happens in his line of work.

“Derek Moore, a white male, is facing felony fleeing, suspended license, stolen vehicle, and quite a few other charges,” Paulk said.

Paulk added that the Lowndes County drug squad was involved in another high speed chase getting up to about 100 mph a little later. Valdosta Today will update that story as information is available.