The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Cops: Citizen held suspect at gunpoint
A man wanted in a Cherokee County vehicle-stealing spree was held at gunpointby a local citizen before being taken into custody Monday after an overnight high-speed chase and hourslong search, offifficials said in a news release.
Jacob “Cole” Henson, 25, of Canton was wanted on several charges, including burglary, obstruction, flfleeing and attempting to elude, reckless conduct and reckless driving, according to authorities. He is accused of stealing trucks, ATVs and threatening people with a sawed-offff shotgun.
The hunt for him began just after 3 a.m. Monday when deputies found a vehicle still running and unoccupied on Little RefugeRoad in Waleska, Cherokee County sh er if ff f’ s spokesman Jay Baker said in the release. The vehicle had been reported stolen fromDawson County on Sunday night.
Deputies shut down the roaddue to receiving reports of similar incidents occurring inCherokee and nearby counties, Baker said. Officials then searched for the man in a wooded area near the wreck site all Monday morning.
By 12:30 p.m., deputies spotted Hen son driving adirt bike on Little Refuge Road.
“After a short chase, Henson crashed the dirt bike and fled into the woods,” Baker said.
But he didn’t get away for long.
Deputies searched the woods and heard gunshots from the area. As they continued the search, they found a citizen holding Henson at gunpoint.
Henson was taken to Northside Hospital Cherokee to be evaluated for injuries fromthe dirt bike crash, Baker said.
Cherokee County authorities tied Henson to five crimes, which took place between July 22 and Aug. 4, AJC. com previously reported. Several of the stolen vehicles ended up wrecked or abandoned.
In one incident, three victims told authorities they tried to chaseHenson down when he allegedly stole a red Chevrolet truck and a trailer, but Henson got out of the truck and pointed a sawed-offff shotgun at them.
In another, he allegedly stole a blue Dodge pickup with its owner still in the passenger seat, according to a police report. When a deputy tried topull the truck over, the vehicle’ s owner was forced out and a handgun was tossed onto the road. Thedeputystopped to check on the victim, who was not injured.