Douglas County deputies said they found more than they bargained for when they arrested a 22-year-old who failed to appear in court.

Officials said Austin Strickland is a known thief. But when investigators arrested him, they said they learned he’s also a heavily armed drug trafficker.

After a warrant was put out for Strickland, deputies arrived at his Douglasville home Feb. 21 to arrest him, authorities said.

Deputies said Austin Strickland was hiding in a safe filled with drug paraphernalia and weapons when  they arrested him. 
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“While at the residence, deputies located Strickland hiding in the back of the residence in a locked cabinet,” a statement from the sheriff’s office said.

Officials said Strickland surrendered without incident. They cuffed him and arrested Crystal George, 33, and Jack Floyd, 23, who were also in the house.

Then, deputies said they looked through the safe Strickland was hiding in and found “several types of narcotics and a wide selection of firearms.”

More than six ounces of ICE methamphetamine, nine ecstasy tablets and some marijuana was found in the safe, authorities said. Officials also said they found four handguns, two rifles and a sawed-off shotgun with the serial numbers removed.

Strickland, Georgia and Floyd are being held in the Douglas County Jail on multiple charges, including trafficking methamphetamine and criminal use of an article with an altered ID mark.

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