Man threatened woman with gun before high-speed chase that ended on Macon Road, police say

The man who was arrested on Macon Road Wednesday afternoon following a high-speed chase allegedly threatened a woman with a gun in Phenix City before the pursuit, authorities said.

Justin Deon McNeil, 27, pleaded not guilty Thursday in Columbus Recorder’s Court to one count each of reckless driving, obstruction, fleeing to elude and disregarding a traffic control device. He was ordered held in the Muscogee County Jail under bonds totaling $23,000.

Judge Julius Hunter bound the case over to Superior Court. He ordered that McNeil be mentally evaluated after the testifying officer suggested it.

Phenix City Police Capt. George Staudinger said officials with his department responded around 3 p.m. Tuesday to a domestic call at a residence where McNeil was accused of threatening a woman with a gun. She wasn’t seriously injured.

Officials spotted him in a red Mercedes and attempted to stop him. That’s allegedly when he fled, initiating a police chase.

Phenix City police pursued him until he reached JR Allen Parkway in Columbus, where they terminated their chase.

In Recorder’s Court, Columbus Cpl. Mackenzie Hollenback said officials with his unit started chasing the suspect in a pursuit that reached up to about 90 mph. McNeil nearly caused a wreck before he stopped in the westbound lane of Macon Road near the Wells Fargo bank, authorities said.

McNeil allegedly placed a gun to his head. Officials spent 30 minutes trying to convenience McNeil to comply to their commands to put the gun down and he did, according to police.

“We were about to get him out of the vehicle,” Hollenback told the court. “At which time, Mr. McNeil grabbed the handgun. He fumbled with it, which gave me an opportunity to grab my Taser.”

Hollenback said he fired his stun gun at McNeil, striking him. He was taken into custody without any further incident.

McNeil will be extradited to Phenix City at a later date to face additional charges stemming from the incident, including third-degree domestic violence and fleeing to elude.

This story was originally published September 28, 2017 at 4:19 PM with the headline "Man threatened woman with gun before high-speed chase that ended on Macon Road, police say."