A Hall County work release inmate who allegedly stole a co-worker's motorcycle and fled from his job in Gainesville on Monday was arrested in South Carolina hours later.
B.J. Williams with the Hall County Sheriff’s Office said the coworker reported that Daniel Jesse Bell, 39, of Braselton, stole the Kawasaki motorcycle at around 12:45 p.m. after he returned from his lunch break.
HCSO work release officials were notified that Bell’s ankle monitor had been removed at 2:16 p.m.
“Deputies with the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office located Bell around 3:45 p.m. and began to pursue him,” Williams said.
The Oconee County (South Carolina) Sheriff’s Office began to pursue him when he crossed the state line.
Bell reportedly lost control of the motorcycle and crashed on Westminster Highway.
Bell and two deputies were injured. OCSO officials said Bell had gasoline on him, and when deputies used a taser to get him under control, his clothes caught on fire.
The deputies were treated and released from Oconee Memorial Hospital. Bell was taken to the hospital by helicopter.
Bell faces charges of escape, interference with an electronic monitoring device and theft by taking. He was serving time for fleeing and eluding, reckless driving and DUI-drugs/less safe.
