Toccoa Fugitive Turns Himself In Following 24-Hour Manhunt

Montavious Cantrell Winkfield, 37, of Toccoa, is in custody at the Stephens County Jail after being arrested late this afternoon, July 2, in Lavonia. 

Winkfield was the subject of a multi-agency manhunt on July 1 following an officer-involved shooting that resulted from Winkfield allegedly firing a firearm five times at law enforcement officials during a traffic stop. 

As WNEG News reported yesterday, law enforcement officers from Toccoa Police, Stephens County Sheriff, Helen Police, Banks County Sheriff, Georgia State Patrol, Department of Natural Resources, Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation agencies converged on a roughly ten-block area between Mize Road and Pond Street, near Orr Park on Diagonal Street, as they searched door to door and through wooded areas for the fugitive. Helicopter and K-9 units were utilized throughout the afternoon and evening, and residents in the area were advised to stay inside their homes and lock their doors. 

At approximately 5:30 p.m., the majority of Law Enforcement personnel shifted to gather at the Regency Inn on West Currahee Street, while evidence collection by GBI agents continued at the Diagonal Street location. At the West Currahee Street site, armed officers surrounded the motel and were stationed around surrounding buildings as officials waited for necessary warrants and awaited a GBI forced-entry vehicle that was able to breach the wall and door of the room where officials knew Winkfield had been previously. However, after entry into the room, Winkfield was not located at the site.

While search efforts continued through the evening and into today, Toccoa Police Department was altered this morning to an assault and kidnapping that reportedly occurred on Peachtree Street, with the victim being driven to a location on Mize Road near Owens Farm Supply, where the victim was put out on the side of the road. Subsequent investigation by those involved in the manhunt for Winkfield led officials to include this crime in their search for Winkfield. 

At approximately 3 p.m. today, officials from the Lavonia Police Department responded to the Ridgewood Apartments on Poole Street, where they arrested Winkfield. 

Following the arrest, M. J. Kneiser, News Director at WNEG’s sister station WLHR in Lavonia, spoke with Lavonia Police Chief Shane Edmisten, who said that Winkfield turned himself in peacefully. 

Edmisten also confirmed to Kneiser that the truck used in the suspected hijacking/kidnapping in Stephens County earlier today was taken by Winkfield; the truck was found in lavonia near the apartment complex where Winkfield was arrested.

Winkfield was transported to the Toccoa Police Department, where he was questioned by law enforcement officials before being booked into the Stephens County Jail. WNEG News spoke with Toccoa Chief of Police Jimmy Mize regarding the arrest.