GBI: Suspect who shot Banks County deputy kidnapped Commerce woman

More information is emerging about the man officials say shot a Banks County deputy sheriff near Tanger Outlets at Banks Crossing Wednesday afternoon, including his involvement in a kidnapping after the initial incidents.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and Banks County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the kidnapping of a female resident of Commerce, who arrived home to find the man waiting inside her home, located about two miles from where the deputy was shot.

That incident happened within hours of the shooting, which occurred when the deputy attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle stolen from Atlanta Dragway during an armed robbery there just after 4 p.m. Wednesday.

“The female was forced at gunpoint to drive the suspect to the metro Atlanta area before she was released,” according to a statement from GBI spokeswoman Nelly Miles. 

The kidnapping victim suffered minor injuries. 

Investigators are working to determine the exact time and location of the suspect arriving in the Atlanta area, according to Miles.

The suspect is described as a black male, approximately 30-40 years old, and was last seen wearing black clothing. During the kidnapping incident, the suspect took a burgundy Ingles grocery store pullover shirt.

The GBI and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to the identity and capture of the suspect. 

Anyone with information is asked to call the GBI Tip-line at (800) 597-8477, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office at (706) 367-3784, or Banks County Sheriff’s Office at (706) 677-2248.

The Georgia State Patrol's Bearcat armored vehicle arrives at the scene of Wednesday afternoon's shooting of a Banks County deputy just inside Jackson County.

Georgia State Patrol Troop B Lt. Al Whitworth, Banks County Sheriff Carlton Speed, Special Agent in Charge Mike Ayers of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation's Athens office, and Jackson County Sheriff Janis Mangum confer near the scene of the incident.

Part of the Hall County SWAT team arrives at Banks Crossing.

More than a dozen agencies are involved in the manhunt for the man who shot a Banks County sheriff's deputy.

Special Agent in Charge Mike Ayers of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation's Athens office, Banks County Sheriff Carlton Speed, Jackson County Sheriff Janis Mangum, and Georgia State Patrol Troop B Lt. Al Whitworth prepare to answer media questions.

Demorest Police Department and Habersham County Sheriff's Office vehicles are among the dozens on scene of the search in Banks County.

The GBI overnight released an artist's sketch of the suspect in the shooting of a Banks County Sheriff's Office deputy.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2017/4/529253/armed-man-who-shot-banks-county-deputy-remains-at-large