Third Arrest in Martin Fight

By MJ Kneiser, WLHR Radio, Lavonia

A third person has been arrested in connection with a fight that broke out in Martin last month.

Athens office GBI Agent in Charge Jesse Maddox said a third suspect turned himself in this week.

“Brandon McCall, a 23-year old male from Martin was arrested,” Maddox said. “He was charged with aggravated battery and two counts of cruelty to children in the first degree. All the charges are felonies and are in connection with the fight that occurred back on February 4th, 2016.”

It happened on February 4th on Stonecypher Road, near Pleasant Hill Circle, where authorities say two groups met, one group of adults and one group of minors.

According to Maddox, a month-long investigation resulted in warrants being served last week.

At that time, Maddox said they had made two arrests.

“The arrests are of 50-year old Darrin McFarlin of Martin and 23-year old Jared Coker of Martin. They are each charged with one count of aggravated battery and one count of cruelty to children in the first degree. Both are felony charges,” said Maddox.

McCall, McFarlin and Coker all voluntarily turned themselves in to authorities.

Maddox said the cruelty to children charges on all three men stems from the fight being between adults and juveniles.

Few other details on the fight and what started it are being released, because Maddox said the investigation is continuing.

“At this time we are still investigating. Right now, what we’ll do is everything we have we will turn over to the District Attorney for further review and will contiue with what we know to do and his direction,” Maddox said.

During that fight, a number of people were injured, including juveniles.

Maddox said none of the injuries were life threatening but several juveniles had to be hospitalized for injuries ranging from minor to serious.