UPDATE POSTED 11:15 P.M.THURSDAY:
Habersham County authorities announced Thursday night that the White County man involved in an officers-involved-shooting with a sheriff’s deputy early Wednesday is in custody. They made the announcement in a Facebook post about 9:00 but offered no details surrounding his capture, saying only that more details will be announced later.
EARLIER STORY. POSTED 8:30 P.M. WEDNESDAY:
The object of the all-day manhunt Wednesday in Habersham County is wanted in connection with an office-involved-shooting in which a Habersham sheriff’s deputy was hurt – and on Hall County theft charges. Jonathan William Harris, 34, of Sautee is the wanted man.
GBI NEWS RELEASE:
“Preliminary information indicates that on about 3:30, (the) deputy conducted a traffic stop on a truck pulling a trailer near Juniper Trail. The trailer had two flat tires. The truck came to a stop at the end of Juniper Trail. As the deputy stepped out of his patrol car, Harris, the driver of the truck, rammed into the patrol car, causing it to hit the deputy and knock him to the ground. Harris got out of the truck. The deputy fired his gun, and Harris ran from the scene…
Antone Cortez Hall, 44, of Gainesville was a passenger in the truck… Hall was arrested at the scene and charged with Theft by Receiving Stolen Property, Obstruction of Officer, and Possession of Firearm by Convicted Felon.
Harris has been charged with Possession of a Firearm/Knife During the Commission of a Crime, Fleeing/Eluding a Police Officer, Aggravated Assault Upon a Law Enforcement Officer, Obstruction of Officer, and Theft by Receiving Stolen Property.
The truck and trailer had been reported stolen out of Hall County. Harris also has outstanding warrants for his arrest from an unrelated incident.
The deputy sustained minor injuries and Harris’ condition is unknown.”
EARLIER STORY. POSTED 4:15 WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON: Officers from numerous agencies have been searching all day in the Chopped Oak community near the Stephens County line for a man who fled sheriff’s deputies just after 3:30 this morning.
“He’s described as a white male with dark hair wearing brown pants and a black shirt. He is believed to be on foot,” said sheriff’s office spokesman Rob Moore.
Anyone who sees a man matching that description in the Chopped Oak area is asked to dial 9-1-1. “Do not approach him,” Moore said. The search began about 4:30.
No further details were immediately made available, such as why the fugitive is wanted.