Lion sighting reported

GAINESVILLE - The Hall County Sheriff's Office responded to Dahlonega Highway near the Lumpkin County line Tuesday morning after receiving a call from a motorist who said he had seen a lion on the shoulder of the road.

Col. Jeff Strickland says it was just after 5:00 that deputies were dispatched to the call.

"Several deputies responded to the area but were unable to locate any sign of the animal. Deputies personally spoke with the complainant who was adamant that he had saw what appeared to be a lion."

Strickland said officers also talked with the owner of a nearby game preserve, less than five miles from where the spotting was reported, and were told that all of the preserve's animals were accounted for.

The sheriff's office only received a single call reporting the sighting but Strickland said the decision was made to make the matter public "out of an abundance of caution."