HCSO: 2 days, 2 manhunts, 2 arrests

Local authorities spent several hours this week on successive days conducting manhunts that ultimately led to the capture of their quarry in each case. They were “on the hunt” for about four hours in the second case

HALL CO. SHERIFF’S OFFICE (HCSO) NARRATIVE #1:

“Following a lengthy search by Hall County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) deputies, a Gainesville man was arrested Wednesday, May 22, in connection to a domestic altercation at a residence in northeastern Hall County.

HCSO deputies were called to the residence in the 5100 block of Young Road just before noon to investigate an assault involving an adult female victim. The early investigation found that Jason Ryan Young, 44, had pushed the victim and threatened her with a .22 rifle. Young, with the weapon in his possession, left the residence on foot prior to the arrival of law enforcement.

During the course of the next several hours, two HCSO K9 teams with the assistance of a K9 team from the Gainesville Police Department, tracked Young’s movements in the area. He was located just before 5 p.m. in a wooded area on Young Road and taken into custody.

Young was booked into the Hall County Jail on charges of felony aggravated assault and misdemeanor simple battery, both under the Family Violence Act (FVA). He remains in jail with no bond.”

HCSO NARRATIVE #2:

“After a search in northeastern Hall County Thursday morning, May 23, 2024, deputies with the Hall County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) arrested a Gainesville man on charges of loitering and obstruction.

Just after 6 a.m., deputies were dispatched to a residence on Claude Parks Road after the homeowner reported a man wandering around on her property and banging on the windows of the home. When deputies arrived at the residence, the man, later identified as Brandon Douglas Watkins, 30, ran from the scene.

A K9 team responded and began a search for Watkins, tracking him to a location in the 6200 block of Old Dahlonega Highway before the track was lost. Another homeowner contacted Hall County Dispatch just before 10 a.m. to report he had seen Watkins lying on top of his RV, which was parked at his residence on Old Dahlonega Highway. Deputies along with a K9 team responded to the second scene and began searching for the suspect. The K9 was able to track Watkins to a location on Old Dahlonega Highway near Stowers Road, where he was arrested just after 10 a.m.

Watkins was charged with loitering or prowling and two counts of obstruction of an officer in connection to the incident on May 23. The suspect also had warrants for traffic violations for an incident that occurred on Elmer Truelove Road on May 22. Additionally, Watkins was wanted on a Hall County Superior Court probation warrant.

Watkins remains in jail with no bond.”