Suicide prevented?, Jackson Co. fugitive caught

A Hall County deputy sheriff may have prevented a woman from killing herself Thursday night. A sheriff’s office spokeswoman says it happened about 10:00 in the 5500 block of Waterword Drive. “One of our deputies made contact with a suicidal woman at a neighborhood dock on Waterwood Drive,” B.J. Williams said. “She had consumed a large number of pills, several alcoholic drinks and she had cut herself.” Williams said EMTs responded and took her to the hospital.

*Also Thursday night, Hall County deputies captured a 43-year-old man who was wanted in Jackson County. Johnny Ray Palmer, 43, was also arrested on Hall County drug charges after his car was pulled over. “Mr. Palmer was stopped for a brake light violation on Athens Highway near Pine Grove Road yesterday morning. During the course of the traffic stop, the deputy determined Mr. Palmer had a felony probation warrant out of Jackson County. Mr. Palmer was placed in handcuffs and searched prior to being placed in the patrol vehicle,” Williams said. “The deputy found two baggies in Mr. Palmer’s jacket, one containing marijuana and the other containing what appeared to be methamphetamine. As a result, Mr. Palmer was charged with misdemeanor possession of marijuana (less than an ounce) and felony possession of methamphetamine (approximately seven grams).”