On Monday, Jan. 15, around 9 p.m., deputies attempted to make a traffic stop on a vehicle with an expired registration on Highway 231. When deputies attempted the stop, the vehicle fled.
The vehicle made a turn near Alma Road, and the driver and the rear passenger seat occupant, Stephen Gay, fled.
Deputies saw Gay fleeing the vehicle and instructed him to get on the ground, which he did. Deputies were then able to arrest him. Two other occupants were in the vehicle, one being a 5-year-old child who was not seated in a car seat or booster seat for his safety.
Gay and the other occupants identified the driver as James Crooms, who had an active warrant out of Habersham County, Georgia for Violation of Probation, and was on active probation for Resisting Law Enforcement Without Violence. A perimeter was established, and the K-9 Tracking Unit was called to the scene.
While securing the vehicle, deputies located two small plastic baggies with remnants of methamphetamine near the driver’s side door. K-9 Rocky was deployed and alerted to the odor of narcotics inside the vehicle.
When the K-9 Tracking Unit arrived, a track was established which led deputies to Crooms’ home, where Crooms was arrested.
Throughout the course of the investigation, it was determined that Gay was on active felony probation for Felony Delinquent with a Firearm and is listed as a “violent felony offender.”
Stephen Gay is being charged with Resisting an Officer Without Violence and Violation of Probation.
James Crooms was arrested and is being charged with Fleeing and Eluding Law Enforcement, Child Abuse, Resisting an Officer Without Violence, Possession of Methamphetamine, Violation of Probation, and Fugitive from Justice.
