GALAX (WSLS 10) - Galax police arrested a North Carolina man who has 24 outstanding warrants in Grayson County.
Police arrested 32-year-old Jonathan Thomas Choate, of Sparta, N.C., after an incident on South Main Street.
Officer Drew Burnett saw Choate involved in a suspicious activity while on patrol in West Galax, according to the police department. When he went to investigate, Choate was already gone.
Burnett learned that Choate was wanted by the Grayson County Sheriff's Office on 24 outstanding warrants.
Shortly after that, Burnett found Choate on South Main Street, but he ran away from the officer.
Although Officer Tyler Houk was off-duty, he joined Burnett in chasing down Choate.
Police say he then entered Chestnut Creek and had to be removed from the water by Officers Jason Hawks and Silverio Gonzales, who both entered the water to make the arrest.
After his arrest, police say they found Choate was carrying meth.
Galax police charged him with 24Â counts of probation violation, possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, resisting arrest and giving a false identification.
After his arrest, police learned that Choate is also wanted by authorities in North Carolina for burglary and larceny. He was charged with being a fugitive from North Carolina.
He is being held in the New River Valley Jail without bond.