Man Wanted in Hart Co. Captured in Franklin Co.

By MJ Kneiser, WLHR Radio, Lavonia

A suspect on the run from Hart County authorities is captured in Franklin County.

Franklin County Sheriff Stevie Thomas says Zach Carey was captured early Wednesday morning after being on the run for over a week.

Carey was wanted on an outstanding family violence and kidnapping warrant out of Hart County and was considered armed and dangerous.

Franklin and Hart County Sheriff’s Office deputies, along with troopers from the Georgia State Patrol and Royston Police, had been looking for Carey since late last week after Carey and a female companion sped away from Royston Police during a routine traffic stop.

Multiple law enforcement agencies searched for Carey and a female companion throughout the day last Thursday.

Thomas said that at one point, they believed he had been located.

“Hart County Sheriff Mike Cleveland received word late last Thursday that Carey might be hiding out at a residence in Vanna, but when officers arrived they were not able to locate Mr. Carey,” Thomas said.

Thomas then said that early Wednesday morning, one of his K-9 units spotted Carey driving on Georgia Highway 17 near Royston.

“At approximately 7:30 a.m., a Franklin County K-9 officer on patrol spotted a green Honda car that passed the deputy,” Thomas said. “The deputy observed that the driver of the car was Carey and Lisa Carey as a passenger. The officer attempted to pull the car over. Zach accelerated at first, but then pulled over on State Route 17 near the Sunnyside Up restaurant in Canon.”

Both Carey and his sister, Lisa Carey, were taken to the Franklin County Detention Center.

In addition to the charges of family violence and kidnapping out of Hart County, Carey now faces felony charges in Franklin County.

Thomas said he is proud of the work of his office in this case and added he is grateful for the wide assistance he received from area law enforcement agencies.