A man who slipped away from Athens police on July 6 was captured Monday at a local motel and is now facing multiple charges, Capt. Trevor Harris said.

At 2:30 a.m. July 6, officers stopped a white Toyota Sequoia on U.S. 31 in Athens.

The driver pulled the SUV into the Walmart parking lot and identified himself as Christopher Davis. Moments later, he sped away from the traffic stop but stopped long enough to let a passenger out to flee on foot. The driver then sped into the field north of Walmart and abandoned the SUV, Harris said.

The driver was identified as Joseph Lee Davis, 24, of 1413 N. Jefferson St., Athens. Officers tracked him to a residence on Hereford Street a short time later. Davis was able to flee the residence before officers could catch him.

At 2 a.m. Monday, Officer Jason Mullins spotted a man running from a white SUV behind the Mark Motel on 31. When Mullins turned around to investigate, a woman informed him Joseph Lee Davis was in one of the motel rooms and that he had stolen the white SUV from her.

Officers confirmed the woman had reported the vehicle stolen to Huntsville Police Department.

Davis was apprehended after another brief chase, Harris said.

Charges

Davis is facing the following charges:

• Using false identity to obstruct justice (during the first traffic stop);

• Flee/attempt to elude law enforcement (for the chase from the traffic stop in the Walmart parking lot);

• Unlawful possession of a controlled substance (for a controlled substance found in the vehicle he abandoned);

• First-degree receiving stolen property (theft of the SUV);

• Flee/attempt to elude a police officer (for the second chase behind the motel); and

• Three outstanding warrants for failing to appear in court on driving without insurance, driving while license suspended and driving while license revoked.

Davis was booked at Athens Police Department and transferred to the Limestone County Jail, where he is waiting for bail to be set.

Officers are still searching for the second suspect who fled from the original traffic stop, Harris said.