High-speed pursuit lands suspect and her mother in jail

FILLMORE — A 14-mile pursuit on Putnam County roads was enough to land a Fillmore woman in jail Friday.

When her mother kicked the arresting officer at the end, she also found herself under arrest.

Jade Ward, 19, and Tonya Boggs, 42, both of Fillmore, were each booked in the Putnam County Jail on a variety of misdemeanor and felony charges.

Jade Ward

The pursuit began when Deputy Brian Helmer noticed a Ford Fusion passenger car with a truck license plate on it. A plate check confirmed it was not registered to the Fusion.

When Helmer attempted to stop the vehicle, it instead fled from him.

The suspect attempted to evade Deputy Helmer, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office noted in a Facebook post, driving through nearly 14 miles of county roads around the Fillmore area.

Tonya Boggs

After about 15 minutes of unsuccessful evasion, the suspect pulled into a driveway and finally stopped. The location turned out to be her residence.

Helmer and Sgt. Riley Houghton pulled in behind the vehicle, the suspect’s mother came on scene and attempted to prevent Helmer from taking her daughter into custody. As he was handcuffing the suspect, the mother continued actively interferring and even kicked Deputy Helmer.

After a short scuffle, deputies had both mother and daughter in handcuffs.

During the investigation it was found that the suspect ran from Deputy Helmer because she did not have a driver’s license, and the license plate was invalid.

Ward was booked in at 6:50 p.m. for resisting law enforcement, criminal recklessness, reckless driving and operating without ever receiving a license. Additionally Helmer issued her eight traffic infractions that occurred during the pursuit.

Boggs was booked in at 3:53 p.m. for battery on a police officer, resisting law enforcement and disorderly conduct.

Information from the case has been turned over to the Putnam County Prosecutor’s Office to determine formal charges.