Moriel Harris arrested after high-speed chase across county lines; $150,000 bond

Henry County sheriff’s deputies arrested a Paris man after a high-speed pursuit that began on Highway 79 shortly before midnight Saturday and continued into Stewart County, WBBJ reported; bond was set at $150,000. WBBJ identified the driver as Moriel Harris of Paris and said the Henry County Sheriff’s Office led the multi-agency response.

Deputies attempted to stop a blue Lincoln sedan on Highway 79 for traffic violations, and “upon the deputy approaching the vehicle the driver sped away at a high rate of speed,” WBBJ wrote. The vehicle was pursued toward Paris before turning and fleeing outbound on Highway 79 North, according to that account.

During the chase, the driver was seen discarding items from the vehicle, WBBJ reported: “During the duration of the chase the driver was observed throwing items from the vehicle.” The vehicle continued into Stewart County, then “drove off the side of the road,” and the driver fled on foot into a heavily wooded area, the report said.

Cpl. Steve Dean and K-9 Lincoln tracked the suspect into the woods, and “after a brief successful track, the driver was located hiding in the woods and taken into custody by deputies without incident,” WBBJ reported. The Paris Police Department and the Stewart County Sheriff’s Office assisted Henry County deputies during the incident, WBBJ added.

WBBJ listed charges brought against Harris as Felony Evading Arrest, Reckless Endangerment, and “various traffic offenses,” and said he was given a $150,000 bond and scheduled to appear in Henry County General Sessions Court on Tuesday, February 24. Those charge and bond figures appear only in WBBJ’s account in the available materials.

There is a discrepancy in the reported arrest date in the source material. An initial summary report stated the arrest occurred on February 23, 2026, while WBBJ’s timeline places the stop “just shortly before midnight” on Saturday, February 21. The Henry County Sheriff’s Office has not released an official arrest time in the materials provided here; court records or the county booking log can reconcile the differing dates and confirm the booking timestamp.

WBBJ did not report any injuries to deputies or bystanders in its account. Harris is scheduled to appear in Henry County General Sessions Court on February 24, and court filings or an official press release from the Henry County Sheriff’s Office should confirm the charges, bond amount, and any evidence recovered from the vehicle after deputies observed items thrown during the pursuit.