An arrest was made yesterday in connection with a brief police chase early this past Sunday morning. Laurens City Police charged 33-year-old Marcus O’Neal Choice of 115 Whaley Street, Laurens with Discharging a Firearm in the City Limits, Failure to Stop for a Blue Light, Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute, 3rd or greater Offense of Driving under Suspension and with Possession of a firearm by a person convicted of a Violent Crime.
Detective Jared Hunnicutt states that an investigation indicating that on April 20th the defendant did discharge a firearm – a silver Jimenez Arms 9 mm hand gun – on Mill Street in Laurens. Warrants further allege that while driving a 1993 Ford F150 pickup on Mill and Fleming Streets, Marcus Choice failed to stop when signaled to do so by a law enforcement vehicle operated by Sgt. Joey Pittman, using blue lights and siren. Choice also allegedly had in his possession a quantity of marijuana with a set of digital scales and a quantity of plastic bags, all of which are commonly used in the distribution of marijuana, on Fleming Street in Laurens early Sunday morning. Another warrant states that he operated a motor vehicle on the streets and highways of the City of Laurens during a time when his privilege to drive was under suspension, and has three prior convictions for driving under suspension from 2011 to 2012; and that this violation occurred on East Main, Mill Street and Fleming Street in Laurens. Detective Hunnicutt further alleges that Marcus Choice had in his possession and used in the commission of a crime, discharging a firearm in the city limits, a sliver Jimenez Arms hand gun on Mill Street. This warrant further stipulates that Marcus Oneal Choice was convicted of a violent felony in 2000 of Assault and Battery with Intent to Kill, making it unlawful for him to possess a firearm or ammunition. Bonds were set totaling $77,000 on the multiple charges. Marcus O’Neal Choice was released from the Johnson Detention Center on posting Surety bonds for that amount.