Juvenile crime spree
By BECKY LANDRESS Sentinel writer

Two male juvenile suspects that had recently been released from a juvenile detention facility in North Carolina, tried their hand at car theft, a home break in, stolen guns and stolen diesel fuel in a two day crime spree in Towns and Clay Counties.

On Monday, just around lunch, a vehicle was reported stolen. The Hiawassee man that owned the Ford Explorer explained that he was fishing along Lake Chatuge when two juveniles jumped in his vehicle and drove away. The owner said the brazen young men actually blew the horn at him as they drove off.

Approximately two hours later, the vehicle was discovered parked just inside Clay County at a campground off Hwy 75. The owner of the campground stated that the young men parked the Explorer. They then asked the owner if they could leave the vehicle overnight because they were having engine trouble. They removed the tag and placed it inside and took off walking across a nearby field.

Towns County Sheriff's Office and Clay County Sheriff's Office teamed up to search for the suspects. Towns County K-9 Unit, Deputy Brian Wilson and Rocky, followed the scent of the suspects. Rocky picked up their scent and followed it through the field, on across the highway and through the woods and to a trail that dead-ended at an empty parking area. It is believed that the two picked up a ride from there.

Along the trail, several key items were found by the K-9 Unit to help build a case. Those items included the keys from the stolen vehicle, the victim's cell phone, some pieces of clothing and both suspects' wallets, complete with their identification.The juveniles are from Clay County and were already suspected by Clay County in earlier thefts that same day. Sheriff Chris Clinton, Captain Mark Henderson and Detective Mike Davis, all from Towns County, met with Clay County Investigator Skip Mulkey at the scene of where the vehicle was located. The vehicle was processed for evidence including fingerprints. Statements were taken from various witnesses. The victim of one of the Clay County thefts gave a statement as well. Since the identification of the teens was certain, the charges they faced were made through the Georgia Juvenile Justice system. As soon as the charges were processed, North Carolina officials were to pick up the two individuals. Before the system could even process the charges and arrange to pick them up, the two were at it again.

On Tuesday, in Clay County, a house was broken into on Gnaty Road belonging to Willard Loftis. The suspects used a knife to break into the home. They left the knife behind and it was later identified as belonging to one of the teens. According to Clay County Sheriff, Joe Shook, four guns and a truck were stolen from Mr. Loftis.

The spree continued in Clay County as Pappy's One Stop called in a report of a drive-off matching the truck's description, taking $49 in diesel fuel. Later, Hilltop Grocery also reported $51 in diesel was stolen. The truck not only matched the description but the attendant identified one of the suspects.

Meanwhile, a possible stolen camper was called in to Towns County Sheriff's office and through the course of that investigation, information was obtained that the young suspects might have been planning on being in that area. Deputies stayed in the area and around 9:30 p.m., contact was made with the juveniles in the stolen vehicle, taken from the Clay County man earlier in the day. Deputy Mark Marshall and Sergeant Brandon Hogsed initiated a traffic stop. The suspects initially stopped and when officers approached, they sped away. They fled up the same road in which the stolen camper had been located.

The vehicle stalled on a steep climb and the driver put the stolen truck in reverse, attempting to ram the patrol unit that was behind them. The truck became stuck in a drainage ditch. Not giving up, the suspects attempted to dislodge the truck, causing damage to the patrol car as large rocks were pelleted into the unit from the trucks' tires. Seeing as they had no way out, the juveniles were removed from the vehicle.

All but one of the guns were recovered. After the two were apprehended, Mr. Loftis was asked if either of the two had ever been to his residence before and he stated that one of them had.

The two Clay County teens were processed through the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice with several felony charges.