Deputy cleared from August fatal shooting of White County man

Mountain Judicial Circuit District Attorney George Christian has confirmed there will be no charges filed against a deputy with the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office, involved in the fatal August shooting of a White County man.

According to Christian, after reviewing the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s report of the shooting, it has been determined that the use of deadly force in this case was authorized; therefore, no criminal prosecution will be taken against the deputy.

On Aug. 13, 2017 the HCSO received a BOLO (be on the lookout) for a Christopher Collins, 24, of Cleveland.

The BOLO reported an incident in which Collins was alleged to have used a gun against another individual in order to take their vehicle, Collins later attempted a carjacking in Toccoa.

According to Police Chief Tim Jarrell, at 7:34 Sunday morning, the Toccoa Police Department was contacted by the White County Sheriff’s Office about a vehicle that was taken after a weapon was brandished.

Jarrell said about an hour later, the Toccoa Police Department received reports of an attempted carjacking in Toccoa.

According to a press release from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the preliminary investigation revealed that at approximately 9:20 a.m., a Habersham County Sheriff’s Deputy initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle being operated by Collins, on Rosewood Drive near the intersection with Georgia Hwy 15 in Habersham County based on the BOLO given to Habersham by Toccoa and White County law enforcement.

During the stop, Collins failed to comply with the deputy’s repeated commands to show his hands.

Collins then exited the vehicle with a firearm at which time the deputy fired his duty weapon at Collins, striking him.

Collins was pronounced deceased at the scene of the incident.

No officers were injured during the incident.