Five South Carolina residents were arrested late Sunday night in Habersham County, charged with cutting catalytic converters off church vans and other vehicles across North Georgia.
“One Sunday, Aug. 23, Habersham County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a suspicious activity call for service at Camp Creek Baptist Church off Camp Creek Road near Cornelia,” said Sheriff’s Lt. Matt Wurtz.
When deputies arrived, they observed several people get into a gold Honda Odyssey van located in the parking lot of the church.
The vehicle sped out of the parking lot in an apparent attempt to flee from the deputies, Wurtz said.
“Deputies pursued the vehicle and, several miles later, deployed spike strips which led to the stopping of the fleeing vehicle,” Wurtz said.
Sheriff’s investigators were called to the scene after the discovery of suspicious items in the vehicle that had attempted to flee.
“Criminal investigators have been able to determine that the items, later identified as catalytic converters, had been cut off and stolen from several different church vans located in Habersham County, as well as other vehicles located in Franklin, Hart and possibly other counties within South Carolina,” Wurtz said.
Those arrested and the charges they face include:
- Tamitha Lois Rene Piper, 50, Greenville, S.C., is charged with party to a crime of theft by taking, fleeing and attempting to elude, obstructing or hindering law enforcement officers, reckless driving, failure to maintain lane, and failure to obey stop sign. Additionally, she faces an outstanding warrant in Franklin County for larceny.
- Brittany Danielle Piper, 29, of Simpsonville, S.C., is charged with party to a crime of theft by taking, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug-related objects.
- Laurie Lynn Keiser, 57, of Ware Shoals, S.C., is charged with party to a crime of theft by taking.
- Steven Hubert Roussell, 41, of Ware Shoals, S.C., is charged with theft by taking. Additionally, he faces outstanding warrants in Franklin and Hart counties for larceny.
- Stephen Edward Eskensen, 43, of Simpsonville, S.C., is charged with theft by taking.
- The individuals are being held in the Habersham County Detention Center and additional charges may be forthcoming as a result of the ongoing investigation, Wurtz said.
