Three Decatur residents were charged after allegedly ramming a Young Harris Police Department vehicle Wednesday night while trying to escape when officers converged on them as they unloaded equipment that had been reported stolen.
That incident happened at Dollar General in Young Harris when Towns County Sheriff’s Office investigators and deputies, joined by Young Harris police, responded to the location where the three allegedly were unloading the excavator they were attempting to sell to a Towns County resident, said Sheriff Ken Henderson.
That equipment was reported stolen from a business in Calhoun.
The three individuals were taken into custody without further incident when officers conducted a felony stop on the vehicle.
Equipment thefts have been more frequent in the area recently.
“This is happening all up here in Northeast Georgia here,” Henderson said. “They've had hits in Union County. We had one up here – Mason's there in the straight before you into Hiawassee – and then we had these two situations come up where they’re trying to sell an excavator. And so, the people were aware of all the stuff going on, so we got tipped off and we started investigating it and of course you saw the end results of all that and we have good reason to believe that it's going to be organized crime got out of DeKalb [County].”
Keshaun James Means, 22, is charged with felony aggravated assault against a law enforcement officer when engaged on official duty, felony fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, felony interference with government property, and purchase, possession, manufacture, distribution or sale of marijuana.
Juwan Quintis Cabbell, 26, is charged with felony theft by conversion and obstruction of an officer.
Umeko Ann Walker, 31, is charged with felony theft by conversion.
Wednesday night’s arrests are part of a continuing investigation by Towns County sheriff’s investigators into an apparent organized crime ring dealing in stolen construction equipment in the North Georgia area.
Henderson said he believes organized crime has found its way to the North Georgia mountains, bringing with it, in some cases, heavily armed suspects who already face very serious charges elsewhere.
On Wednesday, Dec. 7, a sting operation by an undercover Towns County investigator led to the arrest of four Atlanta area individuals, one of whom was wearing an ankle monitor and who is out on bond from DeKalb County for murder.
After the Dec. 7 transaction was made, the individuals attempted to flee and attempted to run over a Towns County deputy sheriff, Henderson said.
A felony pursuit began on Ga. 17 / U.S. 76 toward Young Harris. Speeds did not exceed 60 mph, but the suspect attempted to ram patrol units.
But the chase was not the scariest part of that incident.
Henderson says some of the suspects have been geared up to fight their way out of situations if confronted and, for that reason, he is very thankful the arrests have not ended badly.
“They were heavily armed – very dangerous situation, tried to run over some of our officers and as well, got in a chase with them and they tried to ram us with their truck, and a lot of these things and luckily and fortunately we were able to take them down without anybody getting hurt or killed,” Henderson said. “It’s just very dangerous. They were heavily armed. They had the extra length magazines in their guns, and they were ready to do business and one of the guys had an ankle bracelet. And come to find out, he's out on bond for murder out of the DeKalb County.”
Similarly, Wednesday night’s bust outside Dollar General in Young Harris ended without injuries.
“We had hoped to be able to handle that somewhere other than there and find an area where there was as least of population as we could find, but it wasn’t any way we could,” Henderson said. “They were unloading the thing when we took them down and they took off – tried to run over our officers and they rammed one of our police cars. And that’s a bad situation. But we feel sure that this is going to be tied to the same group of people out of DeKalb and we're working with their investigators.”
The Dec. 7 incident resulted in four arrests:
Dekarius Christopher Pitts, 22, of Dacula, is charged with three counts of felony aggravated assault on law enforcement officers, felony fleeing and attempting to elude law enforcement officers, felony tampering with evidence, felony obstruction of a law enforcement officer, felony theft by conversion, reckless driving, no valid insurance, driving on a suspended license, failure to maintain lane, with further charges pending.
Zackeri Alexander Leonard, 22, of Stockbridge is charged with felony possession of stolen property, felony possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, and possession of marijuana.
Jontavius Clark, 23, of Decatur, is charged with felony theft by conversion, felony obstruction of a law enforcement officer, felony fleeing and attempting to elude law enforcement, felony possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and no valid insurance.
Ronequa Shaunae Jones, 22, of Decatur, is charged with felony possession of stolen property.
Henderson said potential buyers should be aware of deals that appear to be too good or equipment that come from someone out of town who is willing to deliver the equipment to them at a predetermined location.
“I think the thing we need to get out to people is to be very, very cautious, especially in buying equipment or mowers, side-by-sides, four-wheelers, excavators – things of that nature. You’ve just got to be careful when you're dealing with these people and notify the sheriff's department. Let us investigate and look into it.”
