Cedartown police Thursday night arrested the man officials say is responsible for leading police on a high-speed chase on Cason Road last Wednesday.

Scott E. Norris, 50, of Cedartown faces multiple charges, according to police.

Police called off the Jan. 19 high-speed chase after weighing the need for apprehension against the possible threat to public safety.

The chase began when a Cedartown officer attempted to initiate a traffic stop on Gibson Street for a minor traffic violation. The motorist refused to stop and fled south on Main Street, before turning left onto Cason Road, police said

The chase lasted for several miles, officials said. The chase was ultimately stopped for fear of public safety after police made a positive identification of the driver.

“Often times police chases are discontinued because law enforcement officers determine that the need to apprehend the suspect has been outweighed by the danger of continuing the chase,” Cedartown Assistant Chief Jamie Newsome said.

Cedartown police placed a lookout for Norris, which led to his capture in the evening of Thursday, Jan. 20.

A Cedartown officer patrolling in the area of Jones Street saw a vehicle that matched the description of the vehicle involved in the previous day’s car chase. The officer called other officers to assist in pursuit, for fear that the driver would try to elude them again, officials said.

Officers attempted to stop the driver, who police identified as Norris, but he refused to stop. Officials said police gave chase in a very short pursuit in the area of Robert L. Parks Boulevard and Thompson Street, in Cedartown.

Norris’ vehicle wound up in the parking lot of a concrete plant at Thompson Street and Robert L. Parks Boulevard, officials said. Norris then exited the vehicle and attempted to flee on foot, police said.

Cedartown police apprehended Norris after a short foot chase, officials said.

According to officials, there was a slight collision between the police car and the suspect’s vehicle, but no injuries occurred to Norris or the officer.

From the initial case on Jan. 19, police charged Norris with failure to use a turn signal, running a red light, reckless driving, failure to stop at a stop sign, improper equipment and fleeing and attempting to elude.

Additional charges from Jan. 20 include multiple counts of failure to stop at a stop sign, reckless driving, fleeing and attempting to elude and failure to yield, which officials said resulted from Norris running through a stop sign at East Avenue and almost running another vehicle off the road.

Cedartown police transported Norris to the Polk County Jail.

Also arrested was another man, who police said was a passenger of Norris’ vehicle during the Jan. 19 chase.

After discontinuing the initial Jan. 19 chase, Cedartown police received information about the location of the alleged passenger. Police went to an address on Antioch Road in an attempt to speak with the alleged passenger.

Police identified the passenger as Michael Van Adams, 43, of an Antioch Road address. Police went to the Antioch Road location Wednesday and made contact with Adams. Police arrested Adams on prescription drug violation charges.

Officials said police did not go to the residence for the purpose of arrest; they just wanted to speak with Adams. While at the location, police found other evidence that led to the prescription drug charge.

Later, detectives with the Cedartown Police Department reportedly linked Adams to two shoplifting cases that were under investigation.

Cedartown police subsequently charged Adams with one count of felony shoplifting, stemming from an incident on the morning of Jan. 17 at Wal-Mart that involved the theft of a flat-screen television. Police also charged Adams with one count of misdemeanor shoplifting related to an incident at Casey’s Food Store in Cedartown. That incident took place in the evening of Jan. 17.