The black sports car slid across the asphalt, spitting gravel, as the driver desperately tried to elude pursuit from over a dozen Georgia state troopers and other assorted local law enforcement.
“Driver! Turn off the vehicle and show me your hands,” the trooper barked. “Get out of the vehicle and walk backward toward my voice!”
The sports car driver turned off the vehicle and slowly exited, walking backwards towards Grant Minton, a Model High School junior and Georgia State Patrol trooper for a day.
The car chase was part of an entire day’s events sponsored by the GSP. Every year they choose a child and try to give them an experience that will last a lifetime.
Adam Carey
Adam Carey
By every metric, Grant is a rock star at Model High School.
“He’s a really special kid, and well-loved by everybody,” Model High teacher Jacob Travis said. “He rarely has a bad day, is a joy to teach and is a surprisingly good dancer.”
According to Grant, he’s always wanted to be a police officer and hopes to have a career helping people or working with the police.
“Being a police officer is a tough job,” he said. “There are a lot of sacrifices that have to be made.”
Thursday’s event started early, with troopers arriving at Grant’s home with a freshly pressed GSP uniform. They then escorted him and his father, Brian Minton, to Atrium Health Floyd EMS headquarters for breakfast with local leadership and public safety personnel.
“They took me up in a helicopter, 700 feet up, and we flew at 130 knots,” Grant said. “It was loud, but it was an electrifying experience.”
Steven Eckhoff
Steven Eckhoff
Grant then traveled to the state capitol in Atlanta, where he received a tour before heading to Cartersville. There he had lunch with a sizeable law enforcement entourage.
After lunch, as they were heading back to Rome, the officers driving Grant and his dad received a BOLO — “be on the lookout” alert — for a black sports car, which was quickly spotted by Grant.
Once identified, a high-speed drill ensued, ending with the “arrest” of the suspects in a parking lot on the East Rome bypass next to Riverside Nissan.
“It felt like out of a movie,” Grant said. “So many cars, and, man, we were really moving! I told my dad to hold onto his butt, but I didn’t use the word butt!”
Grant’s dad is grateful for the support his son receives from the students and teachers at Model High School.
“We try and teach him that his autism is really a tool,” Brian said. “It’s a tool that he can harness and use to help carry him through life.”
Steven Eckhoff
Steven Eckhoff
Brian hopes his son can pursue a career in law enforcement, or somehow help people and be involved in public safety.
“He is not defined by his condition, he’s a very well-rounded person,” Brian said. “We just want him to be himself.”
Rome News-Tribune
Rome News-Tribune
MEET OUR PARTNER
This story is published via a content-sharing agreement between the AJC and the Rome News-Tribune. Visit them online at northwestgeorgianews.com.
If you have any feedback or questions about our partnerships, you can contact Senior Manager of Partnerships Nicole Williams via email at nicole.williams@ajc.com.
About the Author
