False Kidnapping Report Leads to Arrests

On Sunday, July 7, at approximately 2:15 p.m., Stephens County E911 received a call from an individual reporting that they were being held against their will.

According to Toccoa Chief of Police Jimmy Mize, the call was disjointed and dispatchers had difficulties getting clear information from the caller. At one point, the caller disconnected the call, then called E911 again, and police officers, using the caller’s description and the phone’s location, were able to pinpoint the call coming from a white 2016 Hyundai Elantra.

Officers conducted a traffic stop on the Elantra near the intersection of West Currahee and South Broad streets and conversed with the driver, Allen Curry, 40, of Toccoa, and the passenger, Isaiah Burt, 36, of Fairburn. 

Mize said that, as officers were removing Curry and Burt from the vehicle, Burt was discovered to have a weapon concealed in his lap. Officers were able to take control of and secure the gun. Burt was also determined to be the person who had called E911 claiming to have been kidnapped. 

Several types of drugs were also located in the vehicle, including crack cocaine, mushrooms and marijuana.

Mize told WNEG News that the driver, Curry, was arrested, charged with one count possession of less than 1 ounce marijuana, and transported to Stephens County Jail.

Burt was arrested and charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a schedule I drug (mushrooms), possession of a Schedule II narcotic (crack cocaine), possession of less than 1 ounce marijuana, and tampering with evidence. 

Mize said Burt was transported to Stephens County Hospital for medical clearance before being booked into the Stephens County Jail due to the impact of the high amount of drugs in his system, and the fact that he was in the midst of hallucinations and other drug-related symptoms.

The vehicle was cleared and returned to the owner, who had loaned the vehicle to Curry. Mize said no charges were filed against the vehicle owner.