Toccoa Resident Arrested on Multiple Drug, Gang Charges in Habersham

Roger Laquarius Neal, of Toccoa, was arrested on May 4 and booked into the Habersham County Jail on 10 felony charges, including three counts violation of The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations, or RICO Act, one count terroristic threats and acts, and six counts violation of the Street Gang Terrorism Act. 

On Dec. 14, 2021, Neal was arrested by Stephens County Sheriff’s Deputies following a high speed chase on Big A Road and Hwy. 17 and a foot chase. He was charged on counts relating to the chase as well as multiple drug-related charges involving marijuana and fentanyl. 

In February 2022, Neal, along with four other Toccoa residents, including recently convicted gang member and drug trafficker Demetrius Sanchez Smith, were arrested in Toccoa after a three-month long joint investigation. Neal was charged with one count distribution of methamphetamine.

In July of 2023, Neal fled from Franklin County Sheriff’s Deputies on foot after almost hitting a patrol car with his vehicle. K9 units located him hiding under a trailer and arrested him on a charge of theft by taking/automobile, as well as outstanding warrants from Stephens County. 

In November of 2023, Neal was arrested by Stephens County Sheriff’s Deputies and charged with four counts each of second degree burglary and malicious injury to property, as well as two counts of grand larceny in relation to an earlier theft at a storage unit. At the time, Neal was also served an arrest warrant on charges of grand larceny in connection with an investigation being conducted by the Seneca, South Carolina Police Department.

WNEG News has filed a request for incident reports connected with Neal’s May 4 arrest and will update this report as new information becomes available.

In light of several recent crimes and arrests involving repeat offenders, WNEG News is beginning research for a special report on recidivism and its impact on the community. Anyone with firsthand information on this issue from a professional standpoint is invited to contact me at [email protected] or [email protected] to provide input.