THOMASVILLE, Ga. — A Valdosta man is in Archbold Memorial Hospital after reportedly driving and acting in a bizarre fashion near a Boston business.

Deputies were called to the Ag-Pro headquarters off Highway 84 around 4 p.m. Tuesday as the man, identified later as Albert Mote, 61, of Valdosta, was spinning in circles.

“To say he was driving wildly is an understatement,” said Capt. Steve Jones of the Thomas County Sheriff’s Office. 

Ag-Pro employees put their building on lockdown during the incident as a cautionary procedure, Jones said. During the incident, which took about 17 minutes, Mote made no threats toward the business.

“There was no threat,” he said. “He was just driving erratically. He did several thousands of dollars worth of damage. It got to the point where we had to protect people and property. We didn’t know what his intent was. It was definitely a scary time for several minutes.”

As deputies approached, Mote then began driving between the current building and another one under construction on the property. With the chase taking place in dirt, it was difficult for deputies to use a PIT maneuver.

“Not knowing what his intent was, we tried to box him in,” Jones said. “He kept his foot on the gas until we pulled him from the vehicle.”

When deputies spoke to him, Mote’s answers were rambling and incoherent, Jones said.

“Nothing he said made sense,” Jones added.

Alcohol is not believed to be a factor, but other tests are being conducted.

Mote has not been booked because he remains at Archbold, Jones said.

Editor Pat Donahue can be reached at (229) 226-2400 ext. 1806.