Two theft suspects, wearing black clothing and black masks, were located in a stolen vehicle in Gillsville on Sunday, the Hall County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) says, and the pair has two K9 teams to “thank” for tracking them down. Each has been charged in connection with a series of vehicle break-ins in the area.
HCSO NARRATIVE:
“A patrol deputy…spotted the stolen vehicle around 8:50 a.m. traveling on Harmony Church Road and Leafview Drive. The deputy alerted other deputies to assist him as he searched for the vehicle. Two of the responding deputies, including a K9 handler, observed the vehicle at the intersection of Leafview Drive and Leafview Way and initiated a traffic stop. A third deputy arrived, and as he exited his patrol vehicle to assist with the traffic stop, the driver of the stolen vehicle drove at the deputy in an attempt to strike him. The deputy was not injured.
As the suspect vehicle fled the area, the three deputies followed. They found the vehicle abandoned near East Vale Drive and Harmony East Drive. The K9 handler and his dog were able to locate the driver of the vehicle. Initially, the driver refused to give his name to deputies, but he was later identified as Isaac Ayala, 19, of Gainesville.
The vehicle passenger eluded escape until later in the day. Just before noon, Hall County Dispatch received a 911 call about a suspicious man, dressed in all black, walking down Barrett Road. Deputies arriving at the scene spotted the suspect as the suspect ran into the wood line. The K9 team that tracked Mr. Ayala responded to the scene and tracked the second suspect down Pond Fork Creek, arresting him. The suspect was identified as Armando Luna, 18, of Gainesville. During the arrest, deputies discovered a dollar bill with a small amount of methamphetamine folded in it.
Both Mr. Ayala and Mr. Luna have been connected to multiple entering auto cases on Jasmine Court, Horseshoe Bend, Saddle Creek Drive and Turning Leaf Drive.
Mr. Ayala faces 12 criminal charges and remains in the Hall County Jail with no bond. Mr. Luna faces seven criminal charges. He is also being held without bond at this time.”