Thursday March 28th, 2024 8:37PM

Oakwood officers nab assault suspect after two-hour foot chase

A two-hour ordeal beginning with an assault ended with the suspect in custody following about a two-hour manhunt Sunday evening in Oakwood.
 
Police Chief Randall Moon said the suspect, Steven M. Areizaga, 30, assaulted the female victim at the Audubon Crest apartments on Lanier Mill Circle.  Moon said the two knew one another and possibly shared an apartment .
 
The female victim was transported to the hospital.  Moon didn't have immediate details on her condition.
 
"I understand there could possibly be some broken ribs, but I don't know the extent of her injuries."
 
Officers responded around 6:05 p.m. and confronted Areizaga.  Moon said he fought with them, eventually drew a hunting knife and ran off.  
 
"From that point, a chase ensued which covered quite an area in the downtown Oakwood area," Moon said.
 
Officers with the Georgia State Patrol, Georgia Department of Natural Resources and the the Hall County Sheriff's Office took part in the search.  K9 units and a state patrol helicopter were also used in the search that had cornered Areizaga around 8:00 p.m.
 
"He was cornered up under a porch of an abandoned building, and he refused to come out and had the knife up to his self, and he was eventually Tased, and then a beanbag round from a 12-gauge shot was fired in at which time he surrendered," Moon said.
 
Moon said Areizaga suffered a small self-inflicted knife wound that did not require hospitalization.  
 
He was charged with two counts of felony assault on officers, obstruction of officers, aggravated assault on the female and a few lesser charges, according to Moon.
 
Areizaga was officially booked into the Hall County Jail late Monday morning.
 
The officers involved in the scuffle with the suspect, Joe Gembecki and Ryan Thomas, were not hurt, other than bumps and bruises, according to Moon.
 
"They exercised good decision-making.  They had every right in the world to use lethal force against that young man, and they didn't.  That's good for both sides," Moon said.
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