A tip from a local business led to the arrest of a man wanted in connection with an officer-involved shooting early Wednesday in Habersham County.
34-year-old Jonathan William Harris of Sautee was arrested around 9 p.m. on June 12 at a home on Rosewood Drive, just off Toccoa Highway near Clarkesville. He was wanted in connection with an officer-involved incident that occurred early Wednesday morning in the Chopped Oak community.
Witnesses reported seeing multiple sheriff’s patrol vehicles outside the Dollar General Store on Highway 17 around 8:40 p.m. Thursday, June 12.
Employee called 911
According to the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office, the arrest came after a store employee recognized Harris when he walked in wearing a yellow traffic vest, helmet, gloves, and a mask. When he briefly pulled the mask down, the employee realized who he was and immediately called 9-1-1.
Patrol units responded quickly.
“Upon reviewing video footage at the business, deputies confirmed it was Harris and other units responded to the area to establish a perimeter,” said Habersham County Sheriff’s Public Information Officer Rob Moore.
The individual left the store in a Kubota side-by-side with pine straw in the bed. Deputies located the vehicle a short distance away on Rosewood Drive just off GA 15/US 441.
Tracked to a camper
K-9 teams from Habersham and Banks counties picked up the trail and tracked Harris to a camper in the yard of a home on Rosewood Drive. They noticed a window had been forced open. After failed attempts to communicate with Harris and observing movement inside the camper, deputies obtained a key from the owner, who confirmed that the camper was supposed to be unoccupied.
Deputies entered the camper and found Harris hiding under the bed. He reportedly refused to follow commands and was taken into custody with the help of a K-9 unit.
“Harris had in his immediate possession two handguns and also two other firearms located in a bag belonging to him,” said Moore.
Habersham County Emergency Services evaluated Harris at the scene, then transported him to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Demorest for treatment and medical clearance from the K-9 apprehension, according to Moore.
Officer-involved shooting
Harris was wanted in connection with an early morning incident Wednesday off Talmadge Drive in northern Habersham County.
According to the GBI’s preliminary investigation, at about 3:30 a.m. on June 11, a Habersham County deputy conducted a traffic stop on a truck pulling a trailer with two flat tires. The truck came to a stop at the end of Juniper Trail. As the deputy stepped out of his patrol car, the truck driver, later identified as Harris, “rammed into the patrol car, causing it to hit the deputy and knock him to the ground,” the GBI said. “Harris got out of the truck. The deputy fired his gun, and Harris ran from the scene.”
The truck and trailer had been reported stolen out of Hall County before the incident. Harris also had outstanding warrants for his arrest from an unrelated incident, the GBI said.
Authorities arrested a passenger in the truck. They charged 44-year-old Antone Cortez Hall of Gainesville with theft by receiving stolen property, obstruction of an officer, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. As of early Friday morning, June 13, Hall remained in jail without bond.
Habersham County EMTs evaluated the deputy on the scene and treated him for minor injuries. The GBI is conducting an independent investigation into his use of force in the incident. Sheriff Robin Krockum has not publicly commented on the case.
More charges expected
Before his arrest, authorities charged Harris with aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, obstruction, fleeing and eluding police, possession of a firearm or knife during the commission of a crime, and theft by receiving stolen property. He also had outstanding warrants from an unrelated case. He will be booked into the Habersham County Detention Center and is expected to face additional charges.
“Anyone who believes they are a victim of theft or burglary since early Wednesday, June 11, should contact the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office,” said Moore.
Sheriff Krockum expressed his gratitude to the many agencies involved in the search and arrest, including the Georgia State Patrol, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Department of Natural Resources, Banks County Sheriff’s Office, and the police departments in Baldwin, Clarkesville, Cornelia, and Helen.
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