Three suspects have been identified after Spalding County authorities say the group led officers on a chase in a stolen car, fired shots as they ran from the vehicle and forced residents to shelter in place before they were arrested Sunday.
Spalding Sheriff Darrell Dix had strong words for the suspects, who he said would face a long list of charges.
“Folks that do dumb stuff like this are eventually going to run into the wrong person in the wrong neighborhood, fire shots and a law-abiding citizen is going to shoot back,” Dix said. “Idiots like this play a stupid game, and they’re apt to claim their stupid prize. Good folks are tired of this garbage.”
Cameron Smith, 22, was the first suspect taken into custody Sunday afternoon, Dix said. Smith was found hiding in a barn not far from the car he and the other suspects allegedly abandoned during the chase. According to Dix, Smith has outstanding warrants out of Lamar County and is suspected to be a member of the Ghostface Gangsters.
About a half-hour after Smith’s arrest, investigators got a tip that someone had dropped off two women at the Dollar General on Ga. 92 near Bicycle Road, Dix said. Another tip led deputies to a home in that area, where they found the two women hiding in another barn.
Griffin residents Raven Bulloch, 26, and Amber Long, 28, were taken into custody without incident, Dix said.
Charges against the suspects have not been finalized, but Dix said all three were known to law enforcement and that his office will “charge them with everything possible that the law allows.”
The incident began when Spalding sheriff’s deputies spotted a car that was reported stolen out of Lamar, Dix said. That led to a chase that covered a large area of the west side of the county, Dix said, before the pursuing deputies lost sight of the car.
They later found it abandoned near Ellis Road and Landing Way, according to Dix. Witnesses told deputies that three people ran from the car and one of the suspects fired at least two shots before entering the woods, Dix said. Because shots were fired, shelter-in-place orders were given for the area and additional units from the Griffin Police Department, Georgia State Patrol and Fayette County Sheriff’s Office were called to help.
The shelter-in-place orders lasted more than three hours. While searching the area, investigators received a tip that two of the suspects had flagged down a car and been taken out of the area. Once Smith had been arrested, investigators believed all three suspects were gone from the area and the lockdown was lifted. Bulloch and Long were arrested soon after.
Dix said the charges could include auto theft, theft by receiving stolen property, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, fleeing and attempting to elude, obstruction of officers and more.
Because Smith is suspected to be a gang member, Dix said his office will seek additional charges against him for violating the Georgia Criminal Street Gangs act.
About the Author
