COVINGTON, Ga. – A Mansfield man remains behind bars nearly a week after leading authorities on a high-speed chase through three counties that lasted nearly an hour.

According to a Newton County Sheriff’s Office incident report, the Newton County 911 Center received a call July 26 from a man who said he was following a Ford pickup towing a trailer. The caller reportedly told the 911 operator the occupants of the truck had burglarized his residence in Walton County and he was following them.

Deputies attempted to stop the truck at the county line, but the driver, later identified as 30-year-old Mark Anthony Johnson, refused to stop. According to a NCSO spokesman Deputy Michael Gregg, Johnson led deputies on a 55 minute chase through Morgan, Jasper and Newton Counties until he lost control of his vehicle on Highway 36 and struck a pole trying to turn onto Pickett Bridge Road.

According to the report, Johnson fled from the truck into the woods where deputies were able to take him into custody.

Johnson, was jailed charged with fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, reckless driving, theft by receiving stolen property, possession of a knife or firearm during a crime, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon,  driving without a valid license and violation of the Ga Controlled Substances  Act – methamphetamine.

According to the sheriff’s office website, Johnson has five previous arrests in Newton County.