A South Carolina man wanted by Louisiana State Police was arrested early Sunday morning after leading law enforcement on a high-speed pursuit in an 18-wheeler across multiple Mississippi counties.
At approximately 12:19 a.m. on December 22, the Rankin County Sheriff’s Department was alerted that a semi-truck, which had previously fled from Louisiana State Police, was traveling westbound into Rankin County from Scott County.
A Rankin County deputy located the semi-truck near the 56-mile marker on I-20 westbound and observed the vehicle weaving dangerously through multiple lanes. When the deputy attempted to initiate a traffic stop, the truck driver refused to comply, triggering a pursuit.
The chase continued as officers from the Pearl Police Department deployed spike strips near the 52-mile marker, which the truck struck.
Despite the damage, the driver continued westward through the City of Jackson and into the City of Clinton before finally coming to a stop.
When law enforcement approached the vehicle to apprehend the driver, he barricaded himself inside the cab of the semi-truck. Officers were forced to break the driver’s window to take him into custody.
The driver, identified as 30-year-old David Sergey Pozdnyakov of Duncan, South Carolina, was arrested and charged with:
- Felony Fleeing
- Driving Under the Influence (DUI)
- Disobeying a Police Officer
- Careless Driving
Pozdnyakov remains in custody at the Rankin County Detention Center without bond.
Authorities confirmed that this is an ongoing investigation, and additional charges may be filed in both Mississippi and Louisiana.
The Rankin County Sheriff’s Department extended its gratitude to the Pearl Police Department, as well as other assisting agencies, for their role in safely apprehending Pozdnyakov and bringing the pursuit to an end.
