The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) says the man arrested last week following a chase and brief manhunt was wanted by the Walton County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO). New details about the incident were released Saturday.
It all began Wednesday morning, a social media posting says, when a deputy noticed a motorist, later identified as Deanthony Norman, holding a cell phone while driving. Thinking it would be a routine traffic stop, the deputy activated his blue lights, but Norman had other plans, the post noted. The officer said he fled on foot after jumping out of his still moving vehicle with a passenger still inside on Resthaven Street and ran toward Rooster’s Cafe.
Deputies established a perimeter and deployed K‑9 units and a drone during the search, but Norman initially escaped. An hour or so later, though, Norman was spotted running into a patch of kudzu, where deputies took him into custody a short time later without incident.
Authorities said Norman fled because he was wanted in Walton County for probation violation on an aggravated assault charge involving a weapon.
He was booked into the Forsyth County Jail and faces additional charges stemming from the incident.