THOMASVILLE — The occupant of a Thomasville house was not injured Monday night when a vehicle being pursued by a state trooper crashed into the residence, according to reports. The suspect fled on foot and remains at large.

Between 8 and 8:30 p.m. Monday, Thomasville Post 12 Georgia State Patrol Trooper Eddie Gay attempted to stop a Chevrolet Monte Carlo on Martin Luther King Drive, because the driver was not wearing a seatbelt.

The driver pulled over. When Gay approached the car, the driver left at a high rate of speed, said Trooper First Class John VanLandingham, Post 12 commander.

“I took about two steps, and he knew he did not want to stay there,” Gay said.

The driver fled along multiple city streets and struck a house at South Street and Augusta Avenue. The driver, identified as Joel Christopher Head, 24, Bryant Street, fled on foot.

Inside the vehicle, troopers found a loaded 9-mm, semi-automatic handgun, a felony amount of marijuana — 34.5 grams — and the driver’s identification.

Gay said he stopped at a number of stop signs during the chase, but Head did not stop.

“I had to stop at those stop signs to preserve lives,” the trooper said.

Anyone knowing Head’s whereabouts should call 911.

Pointing out the firearm and drugs found in the vehicle, VanLandingham said, “I assume he’s dangerous.”

Head has been arrested three times for marijuana possession, said Louis Schofill, Thomas County/Thomasville Narcotics/Vice Division commander.

“He had a scale in the car,” Schofill said. “He was dealing.”

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820