Monroe County deputies chased and arrested a man Tuesday morning who turned out to be a Georgia prison escapee, officials said.

Talawrence Vickers, who was serving a 10-year sentence for robbery at Smith Transitional Center in Claxton, did not stop when deputies attempted to detain him for speeding on I-75 South about 12:20 a.m., according to a Monroe County Sheriff’s Office news release.

Authorities said Vickers continued to speed and exited the interstate onto Ga. 42 toward Forsyth, then stopped in a Walmart parking lot. He got out of the Chevrolet Equinox and ran into the woods, where deputies and Forsyth police officers arrested him.

He faces new charges of felony fleeing/attempt to elude, possession of marijuana less than 1 ounce, possession of drug-related objects, obstruction of an officer for fleeing on foot, giving false name and date of birth to law enforcement, speeding, reckless driving and driving with a suspended license.

He remains in the Monroe County jail.

The robbery conviction was in Fulton County in 2010. He could have been released later this year.

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