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THE BANKS COUNTY NEWS • THE COMMERCE NEWS
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2016
lackson County Sheriffs Office incidents — southern, east zones
Deputy Investigates 2 Halloween clown sightings
It was Halloween, but a pair of clown sightings at a Hoods
Academy Road, Commerce, location led the property owners
to call 911 twice.
The first sighting took place at 12:10 a.m. on Monday, Oct.
31, when the complainant said he heard his dogs “going
crazy” outside, so he went outside to check.
“He said he then (saw) two clowns running across the
pasture behind his house,” the responding deputy reported.
“I checked the area with negative contact.”
At 10:17 p.m. that day, a deputy responded to the same
address where the complainants said they again went outside
to check on their barking dogs. Again, they saw two people
dressed as clowns, one with just a mask, and the other wear
ing a blue and silver suit with a clown mask and red and blue
hair.
The complainants said one appeared to be holding a
knife. The complainant told them to get off his property and
the clown in the suit stepped toward them. The complainant
went inside, grabbed a BB gun and told his wife to call the
police. He then told the clown if he came closer, he would
shoot. At that time, the suspect wearing the mask walked off
toward the road. The other continued to stare at the com
plainant until the complainant pumped the gun, at which
time he walked away.
The deputy could not locate the suspects.
Other incidents reported to the Jackson County Sheriff’s
office from the eastern side of the county include:
Commerce Area
•simple battery reported at a Hwy. 82 North location
where a juvenile had difficulty breathing after being punched
between the collar bone and throat by another juvenile on a
school bus. The aggressor said he punched the boy because
the victim was talking about and bullying him.
•theft by taking at East Jackson Comprehensive High
School (EJCHS) where several boys reported money being
stolen out of a locker room at a gym. Entry was apparently
made through a ceiling from the boys’ bathroom. A “suspect”
told the deputy he was fearful because one of the victims
accused him of stealing the money. The victim told the deputy
he saw the suspect counting a wad of cash, and the deputy
confirmed that the suspect’s schedule put him in the vicinity
around the time of the theft.
• a burglary at Amerigas, Maysville Road, where a roll of
copper tubing was stolen from a bin on one of the trucks.
Someone also entered the basement, apparently using a key
hanging nearby outside the business, and took another roll of
copper tubing.
•simple battery at a Mt. Olive Road residence where a
woman said her ex-boyfriend showed up and accused her
of having sex with another person. He forced his way in, the
woman screamed, and the ex departed when the victim’s son
entered the room carrying a baseball bat.
•a dispute at a Dewaters Road residence over a room
mate’s failure to vacate the residence.
• an assist to an elderly man on U.S. 441 South who was
trying to load a sofa onto the trailer.
• a dispute at a B. Wilson Road apartment where a woman
said another woman threw a clear liquid on her as she was
arguing with a man, apparently due to a dispute over parking
spaces.
• shoplifting at the Vanity Fair store at Tanger Outlets where
a man allegedly stole eight pairs of blue jeans. The deputy
located a vehicle matching that of the suspect at the Home
Depot parking lot and saw multiple shopping bags from Tan
ger stores, including a bag full of jeans. The officer stood by
until a Banks County deputy arrived.
•reckless endangerment on Interstate 85 where a man
traveling south was forced to slam on his brakes due to traffic
and the vehicle behind him, driven by a man known to him,
pulled up next to him and swerved at him.
• a landlord/tenant dispute on Greer Road where the com
plainant said he evicted a woman from his rental property but
she returned to live with the current tenant.
• a report — unverified — of an assault on Hwy. 334. The
alleged victim was in Madison County and could not get back
to Jackson to file a report.
• a report of three dogs chasing a homeowner on Groaning
Rock Road. The deputy did not find the dogs.
• theft by deception at a Wynter Creek Way address where a
woman contracted with a man to remodel her bathroom. She
met the man at Home Depot to purchase supplies and tools.
She paid him $800 in advance, but the man did not complete
the job and will not return her calls.
• financial transaction card fraud reported by a Ridgeway
Church Road woman who said someone took money from
her bank account and used her debit card information to
make purchases of almost $2,000. After canceling the debit
card, she said she received a package from Groupon in the
name of “Johnny Bowie” that contained a toy Mercedes vehi
cle bought with her card — but not by the victim — for $276.
She was afraid someone would show up at her residence to
claim the package.
• a hit-and-run incident reported in the parking lot of the
Tanger Outlets where someone struck the rear of a vehicle
and left the scene.
•theft by taking on Glenn Fuller Circle where the com
plainant allowed a woman he didn’t know to stay at his house
overnight and when he woke up at 9 a.m. he found clothing, a
limited edition Georgia jacket worth $7,000, a cell phone worth
$70, a pair of sneakers valued at $30 and $150 in cash missing.
• simple battery at a Blacks Creek Church Road location
where a man said his boyfriend’s sister and her boyfriend
stole items from his boyfriend’s parents in Banks County. The
complainant said he went to the girl’s house to try to retrieve
the items, but the boyfriend cursed him and pushed him away.
The officer went to the location, where the boyfriend said the
complainant began cursing him, at which point he pushed the
complainant and told him to leave.
Shoplifting at the Polo store at Tanger Outlets where a
woman stole several clothing items and fled the store. The
items were valued at $365.
• criminal damage to property at a Maysville Road address
where a vehicle on the side of the road with a “for sale” sign
was damaged. Someone poked holes in the keyhole area of
the tmnk, but nothing was taken from the trunk. A side win
dow was broken and someone set fire to the passenger-side
front seat.
• road rage on Apple Valley Road where a woman said she
passed another vehicle driven by a woman, and the woman
got angry, passed her and began hitting her brakes. At the
intersection of Hwy. 82 Spur, the woman got out of her vehicle,
stmck the hood of the complainant’s vehicle and threw water
bottles at the complainant’s vehicle. The juvenile exited, and
both of them yelled at the complainant. The woman gave the
officer the name of the woman and the juvenile, along with a
photo of their vehicle showing its license tag.
• simple battery on Barber Road where a woman said her
roommate came home, found her on the front porch with a
male friend, left, but came back and handed her an eviction
notice from the owner of the property. The boyfriend allegedly
slapped her phone out of her hands, pushed her into a chair,
and left with her phone. The man denied the physical alterca
tion and the theft of the phone.
•a report from a woman on Ruby Lane that someone
shined a light in the windows of her residence.
• a burglary on Oconee Lane where a woman said she
thinks every time she leaves her residence, someone enters
and takes things. Checking the residence, the deputy found
no sign of entry or attempted entry. The woman said that day
someone tried to steal the nozzle from her garden hose and
some Little Debbie snacks.
Maysville Area
•theft of a camper from a Plainview Road yard. The victim
gave the deputy the name of a potential suspect.
• suspicious persons on Latty Lane in a vehicle driven by a
friend of a man who thinks the complainant has some of his
property.
•a verbal dispute at a Highland Way residence where
a woman reported that her father’s children came to the
residence and began arguing. The victim’s father called 911
because he has a no-contact order against the man.
• a suspicious vehicle at a Plainview Road address where a
deputy went to check on a trailer believed to be stolen. The
resident produced proof that the trailer belonged to him, and
the deputy concluded that someone saw his trailer and report
ed it as the stolen trailer due to its similar appearance.
• speeding vehicles reported on Silver Dollar Road. The
responding officer agreed that several vehicles appeared to
be speeding, but lacking a radar unit, did not pull them over.
•suspicious activity on Red Oak Road reported by a
woman who said she heard someone wiggling the knob on
the locked rear door.
•vehicles speeding up and down Bob Mann Road. The
complainant asked for extra patrol.
• theft reported at a Hickory Way residence where the com
plainant reported entrusting some items to his daughter and
they are now gone. They include a car, an Amish buggy and a
collection of Barbie Dolls valued at around $3,000, which she
pawned in Jefferson.
• aggravated assault on Shady Lane Court where a woman
said her estranged husband grabbed her by the throat as they
argued. She said he does not live there but comes by regularly
to argue with and abuse her. She said he uses methamphet-
amine.
•theft by taking on Hickory Way where the victim said
someone stole his chain saw. He gave the names of two
potential suspects and advised that 20 pieces of plywood were
stolen from his Shady Lane property.
• simple battery on Red Oak Road where the complainant
said her daughter-in-law was starting trouble and had left
walking. Her son had yelled to call the police, and the woman
acted as if she was going to hit the complainant and her son.
The man said the woman was back on drugs.
• a dispute on Pleasant Acres Drive where a woman got
into an argument with her husband and called Lifeline System,
claiming he had hit her. At the scene, she said he did not.
•a criminal trespass warning issued on Red Oak Lane
where the complainant said her son accused her and her
husband of being child molesters. The complainant said her
son has a mental disorder and she wanted him to leave and
not come back. The son said the argument began when he
was trying to get his iPod and mail back.
•theft of a motorcycle from the front porch of a Hickory
Way residence, along with three video gaming systems from a
utility building. The victim provided the names of two potential
suspects.
• fraud at a HDR Drive location where a man said he got a
call from Utah saying he was chosen to receive a grant to go
back to school. He gave the caller the last four numbers of his
Social Security number and his driver’s license number. He
then received a call from Washington and the caller wanted to
discuss the grant further.
•theft by taking alleged on Hale Road where a man report
ed that his wallet was stolen after a visit by a man and woman,
whose names he provided. He called later to advise he found
the wallet.
•a verbal dispute on Pine Tree Circle where the com
plainant wanted a visiting male to go home.
• damage to a vehicle on Beacon Drive. The complainant
thought perhaps it happened at Six Flags.
•suspicious activity on Green Hill Court where a caller
saw a male beating a female. When the officer went to the
residence, the occupants said there had been no incident.
Nicholson Area
•suspicious activity on Ivy Creek Drive where the com
plainant wanted the deputy to check an ice cream van passing
through the neighborhood. The driver and passengers were
dressed like clowns and “riding really slow through the neigh
borhood.”
•the shooting of a dog on Kesler Road. The complainant
gave the deputy the names of potential suspects. The dog was
stmck in the chest, but not fatally.
•a second report of an ice cream truck, this time on
Staghorn Trail, playing loud music. There was no mention of
clowns.
• theft by taking on Sanford Drive where a woman said her
daughter stole a Green Dot money card. The woman declined
to press charges.
•loitering or prowling on Sanford Drive where a com
plainant said a man and woman she knows but does not
associate with were in her yard, possibly to steal items.
• suspicious activity at an Ivy Creek Drive residence where
the complainant said she heard her door knob rattling. She
locked the deadbolt, but when she tried to lock another lock, it
felt like someone was holding the doorknob so she could not
lock it. Her sons were able to lock the door. One of them said
it sounded like someone ran off the porch.
•theft by taking at a Peach Street address where a man
said a female and her daughter stole some of his medications
while they were cleaning his house. One of the persons doing
the cleaning has a history of drug use.
•possible theft of livestock reported on Watkins Farm
Road where a man said he came home, found a chicken pen
overturned and two chickens missing. They were valued at
$80. The complainant said there is an “ongoing issue” over
chickens.
• a welfare check on Z. Williams Road where a woman said
people were sneaking around her house placing “listening
devices” on her property. The complainant told the deputy
that there were cameras in several household appliances and
in the bathroom, though the deputy could not find any sur
veillance equipment. She had burned household electronic
items in her yard because she believed they contained cam
eras. The Department of Family & Children Services (DFCS)
removed a juvenile from the residence
• criminal trespass warnings issued to two sisters for shop
lifting from the Dollar General Store.
• a warning issued to the driver of a vehicle pulled over for
failure to maintain a lane. The driver swallowed a quantity of
marijuana to destroy the evidence.
•a complaint about barking dogs on Cabin Creek Road.
While the deputy was talking to the complainant, the owner
of the dogs said she would be home in an hour to put up the
dogs. The complainant said it is an ongoing issue.
• harassment at a Jim’s Lane residence where a woman
got a text message from her ex-husband. She said she has not
talked to him in a year and wants to keep it that way.
•suspicious activity on Z. Williams Road where a woman
wanted a deputy to make sure no one was on or around her
property. No one was.
•suspicious activity on Jim David Road where a man
reported that a suspect has been walking at night into his
yard and his neighbor’s yards, though nothing was reported
missing.
• road rage reported on U.S. 441 where a woman said a
vehicle ran her off the road.
• suspicious activity on Pace Drive where a couple reported
flashlights being shined in the window and said it is an ongo
ing issue.
•a dispute at a Cabin Creek Drive apartment where a
woman said her son got upset about his belongings being
moved out. The complainant had ordered him out of the
apartment by the end of October. She and her husband hired
a moving company to move the items so they would not end
out on the street. The man calmed down after his parents
explained the situation.
•suspicious activity on Z. Williams Road where a
woman said several people were on the edge of her proper
ty with flashlights. She said she found two cameras placed
in her house by someone who was keeping her under
surveillance.
•suspicious activity reported by a Peach Street man who
said he saw a flashlight in the woods behind his residence.
• four-wheelers on the road in the vicinity of Brooks Drive.
The deputy spotted a four-wheeler and dirt bike in a field, but
the property owner said the riders were his grandkids, who
had permission to ride there.
•suspicious activity on Old Kings Bridge Road where a
male was walking along the road screaming at people who
drove by. The deputy could not locate the man.
Other Areas
•theft by taking at the J&J Flea Market, Commerce Road,
where a girl left her cell phone in a restaurant and returned
to find it gone.
•damage to property at the J&J Flea Market where a
woman said her vehicle was stmck by a car driven by an
elderly man, causing minor scratches.
• recovery of a vehicle at a Harmony Church Road, Gills-
ville, address where a Dahlonega woman who had reported
it stolen told the deputy she loaned it to a man who never
returned it. She found out the man was arrested by JCSO after
she reported it stolen. A friend told her it was in Gillsville, but
no one at the site had the keys. Lumpkin County dispatch
advised to have the vehicle towed to Lumpkin County. Later
that day, a deputy returned to the same location where the
occupants reported that a washer, dryer and refrigerator were
missing.
•a custody dispute at a Rolling Ridge Drive, Gillsville,
address where a complainant wanted to pick up her son from
her estranged husband, but the man had not let her see the
boy for two years. The husband said his wife is crazy has a
drug problem and has not seen the boy in two years because
she’s been in jail. A DFACS worker confirmed the husband’s
allegations.
•simple battery on Pond Fork Way where two brothers
fought over one of them smoking in the presence of children.
Both admitted to drinking, and the deputy noted that they
were intoxicated. The deputy arrested the aggressor.
• a dog complaint on Harmony Church Road where a jog
ger said three large dogs ran at her. The deputy went to the
location and found four dogs mnning loose with no ID tags or
rabies vaccination tags. The officer contacted Animal Control
to deal with the animals.
•suspicious activity on Commerce Road where a woman
said she saw a large number of people exit a large bus at a
nearby trailer. The following morning someone brought a
quantity of new furniture to the trailer. The woman made no
allegations of criminal activity, but she did express concern to
the deputy about “the recent clown activity.”
• a complaint from a woman who said she heard someone
shooting BB guns near her house. The deputy found no one.
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