CARNESVILLE — Alert police work by members of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office interdiction team has led the arrest of two Florida residents related to serious crimes out of Florida.
Members of the interdiction team stopped a black Ford Escape at the 172 mile marker northbound on Interstate 85, near Lavonia, about 5 p.m. Wednesday for traffic offenses.
When the deputy pulled out to stop the vehicle, the windows were down and deputies saw a bag being thrown from the passenger’s window, according to Franklin County Sheriff Steve Thomas.
When deputies approached the vehicle during the traffic stop, the windows were rolled up, and the driver locked the door of the vehicle, according to Thomas. Deputies also saw the Escape had been freshly spray-painted.
“After talking to the passenger and driver through the window, the passenger unlocked her door and began to get out,” Thomas said. “Drivers opened the driver’s door and assisted him out of the vehicle. The passenger started talking to deputies. She was very upset, and she started telling them that they — the driver and passenger — did an armed robbery in the state of Florida and stabbed the victim many times. The person stabbed was the female’s ex-boyfriend.”
Both the driver and passenger were placed under arrest and were transported to the Franklin County Detention Center in Carnesville. Florida authorities were notified of the reported crimes there.
Thomas identified the driver as Rogeric Ellis Coleman lll, 24, of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., and the passenger as Stephenie Cahn, 30, of Fort Walton Beach, Fla.
Both face felony drug charges, Thomas said, adding Florida officials are on their way to Georgia as the investigation continues.
No further details are immediately available.
