Suspect arrested in connection to vandalism at several businesses and churches

The Dawson County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a Dawsonville man in connection to the vandalism of several churches west of Dahlonega and several businesses in Dawson County.  

Christopher Eric Reynolds, age 33, was arrested after a traffic stop at the Gold Creek Exxon located at Georgia 9 and Georgia 136.

According to Dawson County Sheriff Jeff Johnson, deputies were able to locate the suspect from a 911 call from Sawnee EMC about a suspicious vehicle at the Holy Ground Outreach Center on Heath Road in Dawsonville. The EMC was responding to a power outage at the Holy Ground Outreach Center.

“We received a call from Sawnee EMC, we certainly appreciate them. Obviously being vigilant, being aware of what's going on and contacting us,” Johnson said in a statement released on their social media page.

Deputies also used shared information from their flock camera system. Lumpkin County Sheriff Stacy Jarrard said in the statement that they put in information from the Dawson County Sheriff's office and were able to identify the suspects vehicle.

“We were able to post the look out nationwide with all the flock cameras and then it hit again in Oakwood where a law enforcement officer pulled an individual over and was able to get identification of the vehicle and the individual,” Jarrard said.

Deputies in Dawson County and Lumpkin County were on high alert after two liquor stores were targeted in Dawson County in February after the suspect disabled the power to the stores and came back later to rob them. Three churches near Georgia 52 West, as well as at a gas station near the roundabout at Ga. 52 and Dawsonville Highway were also vandalized.  

Reynolds faces charges of multiple counts of burglary, criminal damage to property, criminal attempt to commit burglary and failed partaking in Dawson County after confessing to the crimes.