Just three weeks after being acquitted of murder charges in Burke County, Jordan James Perkins is back behind bars following a dramatic high-speed police chase that ended in his arrest and the recovery of a firearm.
At approximately 7:04 p.m. Friday evening, Richmond County Sheriff’s Deputy Trentin Edgemon attempted to stop a white Chevrolet Malibu near the intersection of GA Highway 25 North and Hephzibah McBean Road. Authorities say the vehicle initially appeared to comply before speeding off, triggering a multi-agency pursuit.
The chase continued for several miles, crossing into Burke County. Deputies from both counties coordinated as the pursuit unfolded, and officers reported seeing an object—believed to be a firearm—thrown from the vehicle during the pursuit.
The chase came to an end about half a mile past Greiner Circle after RCSO Corporal Tim Smith executed a Precision Immobilization Technique (PIT) maneuver, safely halting the vehicle. Perkins, identified as the driver, was taken into custody without incident.
A subsequent search led by Deputy Joseph Hawkins, Chief Lewis Blanchard, and Corporal Smith resulted in the recovery of a firearm near the location where it had been discarded, aided by in-car video footage.
Perkins was booked into the Charles B. Webster Detention Center on charges including felony fleeing to elude and multiple traffic offenses. The investigation remains ongoing, with further charges possible.
Perkins became a free man last month when a jury found him not guilty in a high-profile Burke County murder case. He had been charged in connection with a July 30, 2022, shooting at an unlicensed bar on Claxton Road in Girard. The incident left one man dead—34-year-old Dereck Hilton of Sardis—and four others injured. Authorities described the venue as a “trouble spot” for law enforcement.
Perkins was one of two suspects in the shooting and was arrested after a tense standoff in North Augusta in December, 2022. Law enforcement—including the U.S. Marshal’s Office, North Augusta Public Safety SWAT, and SLED SWAT—surrounded a home in the Walnut Grove neighborhood. The standoff ended after SWAT officers deployed gas into the residence.
Despite the serious nature of those charges, Perkins was acquitted at trial in May 2025 and released from custody. But not for long.
