Residents of a subdivision in Towns County report they were "frightened and alarmed" when they were stopped by armed men as they try to enter or leave their subdivision earlier this week.
Sheriff Chris Clinton released details of the incident late Friday afternoon, saying the three men had set up a roadblock in Hi River Country Subdivision near Hiawassee Monday night, Feb. 22.
"Upon arrival, deputies discovered that subjects occupying two trucks were blocking a roadway leading into the subdivision," a release from Clinton states. "Residents of the subdivision who were attempting to enter and leave were being illegally stopped and detained. The residents who were stopped in the roadway expressed how frightened and alarmed they were coming upon the roadblock setup by the subjects."
According to Clinton, the men blocking the road told those they stopped that they were looking for a stolen vehicle that supposedly was in the subdivision, describing it as a Red Mustang.
Clinton said the sheriff's office had not received a report of a stolen vehicle matching that description, nor were any calls received by the 9-1-1 center of any vehicles taken without permission.
Those arrested at the scene Monday night include:
• Dustin Blake Parker, 26, of Hiawassee, charged with three counts of false imprisonment and three counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime;
• Jack Clifford Shook, 52, of Young Harris, charged with three counts of false imprisonment and three counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime; and
• Cleveland Edward Wade, age 45 of Hiawassee, charged with three counts of false imprisonment and one count of false statements.
