Suspect who fled the scene of a Toccoa business remains at-large following chase on Monday

Correction: WNEG News erroneously reported that the suspect, who fled on foot on Monday, had been captured; however, that was incorrect. The suspect remains at-large.

 

Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley is asking for the public’s help in identifying the suspect responsible for the robbery of a Toccoa business that occurred on Monday.

Shirley tells WNEG News that when his deputies arrived on scene, they learned that the suspect was possibly armed, and was last seen running behind Kelly’s Construction into the wooded area in the direction of Stephens County High School.

Due to this information and for the safety of students and staff, Stephens County High School, Big A Elementary School and Stephens County Middle School were placed on lockdown until the area could be deemed safe.

Deputies, officer with the Toccoa Police Department, and Troopers with the Georgia State Patrol set up a perimeter in an attempt to keep the suspect boxed-in the wooded area.

Shirley says the suspect is a white male, possibly in his late 20s to early 30s, at the time of the incident he was wearing a black jacket, a hat, a white t-shirt and blue jeans.

A K-9 Unit from the Georgia Department of Corrections was called in to assist with tracking the suspect into the woods.

During the course of the tracking, certain items were located in the wooded area believed to belong to the suspect.

The K-9 search for the suspect ended near a business on Rose Lane where the K-9 lost the track.

An independent witness nearby was able to give investigators additional information regarding a vehicle that a possible suspect had gotten into and left the area.

Shirley said it was at this point that officials were able to deem the area safe to release the lockdown of the schools.

Investigators followed up on leads into the night and ended the search for the suspect after exhausting all available leads. Investigators are still actively investigating the incident and have promising leads in the case.

Shirley says anyone with additional information is asked to contact Investigator Sean McGuire with the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office at 706-886-7048 or you can call the Stephens County 911 non-emergency number at 706-779-3911.

WNEG News will continue to follow this story and bring you updates as they become available.