Update as of 2 p.m. Thursday:
Habersham County Authorities have released the names of the three suspects apprehended during a brief vehicle pursuit and manhunt in Clarkesville Wednesday afternoon.
The driver in the incident has been identified as Steven Xavier Ferguson of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Ferguson is charged with felony fleeing or attempting to elude, fugitive from justice, and misdemeanor obstruction of law enforcement officers.
Two other suspects, identified as Vonkeith Antwon Hall and Darius Dion Henry, also of Fort Lauderdale, have both been charged with misdemeanor obstruction of law enforcement officers.
The pursuit of the three initially began when Habersham County authorities were contacted by Dalton investigators who said the three suspects were believed to be involved in a burglary in the area.
Original Story:
Three wanted men are in custody after a brief vehicle pursuit and manhunt in Clarkesville late Wednesday afternoon.
Habersham County officials were contacted by investigators in the Dalton area who were tracking a rental vehicle that had three suspects involved in burglaries and thefts in their area.
A release from Habersham County Sheriff's Office spokesman Rob Moore says that the vehicle was located in their county as a Sheriff's Department deputy encountered it near Dairy Queen in Clarkesville.
The deputy attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver triggered a brief car chase that ended in front of the Dunkin Donuts in Clarkesville and led to all three occupants of the vehicle to flee on foot.
Two went into the nearby Wilbanks Lumber property in Clarkesville, while the third went into the woods and continued to run on foot.
The two that went into the grounds of Wilbanks Lumber were found inside a building by investigators. One of the two men was wanted for aggravated assault.
Despite canine units’ best efforts, area investigators were unable to track the third man due to the elements in the area.
While meeting with Habersham County Sheriff’s Investigator George Cason and Clarkesville Police investigators at around 8 p.m. Wednesday, Moore says officials observed a white vehicle with dark tinted windows pick up a male who came out of the woods and then immediately left the area.
Cason eventually located the vehicle traveling south on Ga. 365 at Level Grove Road and initiated a traffic stop on Ga. 365 at Duncan Bridge Road in Baldwin once a backup unit arrived with him.
The third suspect, who was a passenger in that car, was arrested during that traffic stop.
In addition to pending obstruction and fleeing charges, Cason said, “There was a crime that was committed there at My Georgia Credit Union where a debit card was used from a member of My Georgia Credit Union by these men, and we’re going to be following up on that."
All three unidentified men are being booked in the Habersham County Detention Center in Clarkesville.
