17-Year-Old arrested after Toccoa Stolen Vehicle recovered in Columbia County

By Stephens County Sheriff’s Office – Georgia 

At approximately 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, Stephens County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) deputies were dispatched to a call for service regarding a stolen vehicle from a local automobile dealership. In less than 14 hours, one individual was arrested, and the stolen vehicle was recovered in another county.

SCSO deputies responded to a local dealership on Tuesday, February 3, in reference to a 2023 Cadillac Escalade V that had been stolen sometime on Monday evening. Investigators with the Criminal Investigations Division responded to the dealership to take over the investigation.

During the investigation, they were able to identify the suspect as Justus Coakley, 17, of Grovetown, Ga. Sources confirmed that Coakley had been in communication with the dealership about the vehicle since late January 2026. After business hours on Monday, February 2, Coakley trespassed onto the dealership’s lot and stole the vehicle.

After learning that Coakley lived in Grovetown, SCSO investigators contacted the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office – Appling, GA to assist with the investigation. At approximately 6 p.m. Tuesday, patrol deputies with the CCSO responded to Coakley’s address in Grovetown. Deputies discovered a similar Escalade in the driveway and conducted interviews with the family. Meanwhile, SCSO investigators secured a warrant for Coakley’s arrest. CCSO deputies received the warrant and took Coakley into custody without incident.

Later that evening, at approximately 12:30 a.m. on Wednesday, February 4, CCSO deputies located the stolen Escalade in a subdivision neighboring Coakley’s residence. The vehicle was seized and transported to the CCSO impound lot.

SCSO deputies were able to confirm that the vehicle recovered in Columbia County was the same vehicle stolen out of Stephens County.

Coakley was transported to the Stephens County Jail on Wednesday afternoon. He has been charged with Theft by Taking (Felony), Theft by Deception, and Criminal Trespass. He remains in jail pending a bond hearing with a Stephens County magistrate judge.

“I am extremely proud of our Criminal Investigations Division for their strong investigative work and teamwork with the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, which led to a swift arrest and recovery of the stolen vehicle,” said Sheriff Rusty Fulbright. “The immediate response for assistance by Columbia County Sheriff’s Office deputies and their hours of diligent work were pivotal in helping to quickly solve this case.”