Thursday night's high-speed chase through Floyd County ended on Sycamore Street near Wilkerson Road in West Rome with a driver from Centre, Ala., being arrested.

James Brent Morgan, 28, of an E. Main Street address in Centre, is in jail this morning on a number of charges, including felony aggravated assault on a police officer.

According to Floyd County police officer Jeramy Penny, the chase began around 10:15 p.m. on Rockmart Highway and led police to Turner McCall Boulevard and Shorter Avenue before the driver took several side roads.

Police used "stop stick" strips to deflate two of the vehicle's tires, but the chase continued for about 15 more minutes until the driver was stopped around 10:35 p.m.

Penny said he was heading to investigate a call about a suspicious red Ford pickup truck in the 5000 block of Rockmart Highway. Penny said he passed the truck while heading in that direction and turned around, and at that time, the truck began to speed up.

Penny said the truck continued to speed away, and when it got to Rome, it ran several lights and was driving at times on the wrong side of the road.

Rome police and Floyd County Sheriff's deputies assisted in the pursuit and also in blocking off several intersections to protect the safety of other drivers. At some points, speeds reached over 70 mph.

Rome police deployed stop sticks on Shorter Avenue near Avenue A, beginning the deflation process on two of the truck's tires. The tires eventually shredded, leaving the driver's side wheel riding on the metal rim.

The truck was finally stopped at the intersection of Sycamore Street and Wilkerson road, and the male driver was quickly taken into custody.

Police at the scene were still trying to identify the driver and find out why he led police on the pursuit.