Lots of buzz late yesterday and early this morning about an Atlanta police chase that ended in Oakhurst.

Eyewitnesses in this Oakhurst Message Board thread reported that the chase ended at 4th and Gorden, that Atlanta police were in resident yards with guns drawn, how the driver fled from the scene, and a report that the car was “easily doing 80″ down Pharr Road before the chase ended.

The AJC also has some details from the scene and a quote from the Atlanta police.

Nancy wrote in last night…

Today, August 18, my grandsons and I were in Scott Park behind the Rec center around noon when a young man was running through the play area apparently from the Police as a squad car streaked through the library driveway in pursuit. One of the nannies at the playground said he had a gun.  All parents and nannies made a run for the children’s reading room of the library. Word spread soon after that the man running had climbed into a treehouse on the property behind the playground and was apprehended by the DP.

She later followed up with this…

I called the police, but the person answering the phone could not tell me if the perp had a gun.

I’ve been trying to get confirmation of this by DPD, but have yet to hear back.  Will certainly let you know when I do.

UPDATE: Decatur PD has now confirmed that the suspect DID NOT have a gun.

In the midst of a dog walk last night, we saw the aftermath of this accident at the eastern intersection of Ponce and Commerce.

A crushed car on the sidewalk.  Decatur and DeKalb police and fire on the scene.  Police tape across the intersection and smoke rising from the center of the action.  I’m now kicking myself for not taking a blurry pic with my cameraphone.

Though I couldn’t get much info from anyone at the scene, the rumor mill is full of info this morning.  Robbie tweets in response to Andisheh that the crash is the result of a police chase and that one suspect fled on foot.

Lynne writes in with a report from an eyewitness that reasserts that the driver fled.

A work colleague saw a terrible car wreck early evening on Thursday at the corner of Commerce and E. Ponce (near Decatur First Methodist Church). A black SUV sped through a red light heading west on Ponce, and crashed into the line of waiting cars going east. One woman had to be cut out of her car. The driver of the vehicle that ran the light got out of his car and ran away on foot. Anyone know anything more?

I’m trying to get confirmation from Decatur PD on all of this.  Stay tuned.

UPDATE: Police Chief Booker provided details in the comments section.