The Hall County Sheriff's Office arrested a Murravyille man Sunday on a drug trafficking charge in connection with two stolen vehicle cases he is also implicated in.
According to a press release from the agency, Christopher Eugene Starnes, 43, was charged with trafficking methamphetamine, two counts of felony theft by receiving and one count of misdemeanor theft by receiving.
Starnes was arrested Sunday evening after K9 units tracked him along locations on Lipscomb, F Gilmer and Joe Chandler Roads east of Gillsville. Starnes had about 13 ounces or 369 grams of methamphetamine in his possession at the time of his arrest. The estimated street value of the drugs was $28,000.
The incident began at a home in the 4000 block of Whiporwill Road, where deputies recovered a stolen 1994 Ford Ranger and a stolen license plate. Starnes ran on foot from the home as deputies were making the recovery. The truck was reported stolen Saturday from a home on Timber Ridge Road.
In addition, Starnes was also charged in connection with the theft of a 2020 Kawasaki Ninja motorcycle. Authorities recovered the motorcycle on March 19 in the woods between Hillcrest Drive and Gateway Centre Parkway. The motorcycle had been reported stolen from a home on Noah Martin Road on Oct. 8, 2022.
The Hall County Sheriff's Office is continuing its investigation. Starnes remained in the Hall County Jail without bond as of Tuesday afternoon.
