Clarkesville man arrested after Friday manhunt

A multiple-agency manhunt near Clarkesville on Friday disrupted traffic and had officials advising area residents to stay indoors and lock their doors as a precaution. 

Assistance from Georgia State Patrol Aviation caused abundant social media comment as citizens in Habersham, Stephens and Rabun counties took note of the low-flying helicopters. 

The search, by ground and air, had remained focused in the triangle between Georgia 17, Georgia 115 and Habersham Mills Connector, where the last sighting of the suspect had been.

At the conclusion of the search, Damien Thomas Mauldin, 21, was returned to custody, and is charged with first-degree burglary, aggravated stalking, and second-degree criminal damage to property, all felonies. Mauldin also is charged with two counts of battery, criminal trespass, and obstruction.

Georgia Department of Corrections K9 officers located him in the restroom at a convenience store on Highway 115 at Habersham Mills Connector just after 2:30 Friday afternoon.

Habersham Public Information Officer Rob Moore told WNEG News, “As in all cases when our deputies and others are searching for someone, we encouraged residents to lock their doors and vehicles. We do that to reduce possible locations where an individual can hide. At no point during this search did we anticipate Mr. Mauldin was a danger to the public, but rather believed he was fleeing in an attempt to avoid being arrested.”

Habersham County Sheriff Joey Terrell commented, “We appreciate the help of the Georgia Department of Corrections K9 team who took him into custody. We also appreciate the help of Georgia State Patrol Aviation and other agencies involved with our personnel in this search and capture.”

Mauldin had bonded out of jail July 31 on an $11,100 bond after being arrested July 28 for aggravated assault under the Family Violence Act.

Friday’s incident started as a reported home invasion off Georgia Highway 17 near Victory Baptist Church at 10:18 a.m. and involved individuals known to each other.

Mauldin remains jailed at the Habersham County Detention Center in Clarkesville. No other details have been released.