Man arrested in high-speed chase faces federal charges, jail time

By Tasha Kates

Published: October 9, 2008

A Staunton man accused of leading Virginia State Police on a high-speed chase on Interstate 64 that ended in Charlottesville is now facing federal drug and firearm charges and jail time.

Michael Twain Toney, 37, appeared Thursday in Charlottesville General District Court on a charge of assaulting a law enforcement officer, a felony that was amended in court to misdemeanor obstruction of justice. Joseph Platania, assistant commonwealth’s attorney, said in court that the charge was amended because the officer involved in the chase said Toney hadn’t hit him.

General District Judge Robert H. Downer Jr. sentenced Toney to 12 months in jail on the altered charge.

Toney is also facing new charges. He was indicted Wednesday by a Charlottesville federal grand jury on charges of possessing a firearm that had moved in interstate commerce while being a felon and possessing cocaine with the intent to distribute. Both charges referenced Sept. 5, the same day that police said Toney sped down I-64.

The indictment additionally charged Toney with two counts of possessing a firearm that had moved in interstate commerce while being a felon in connection with incidents on July 9 and Aug. 28.

On Sept. 5, state police followed Toney for about 10 minutes as he drove west on the interstate. Toney, who was wanted on a probation violation, did not stop for the troopers, authorities said. State police said the chase ended after Toney left the interstate and hit two cars and a bus near Roosevelt Brown Boulevard.

Toney also was charged in Albemarle County with felony eluding and driving after being declared a habitual offender in connection with the chase. According to court records, county prosecutors chose not to pursue those charges when he appeared Thursday in court.