by Al Summers
News Editor
alsummers@timescourier.com
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Deputies and detectives from the Gilmer County Sheriff’s Department were kept busy with an armed robbery and a burglary in the southern part of Gilmer county last Wednesday, June 23, during the late morning and early afternoon hours.
The law officers were dispatched to Boring’s Store on Old Hwy. 5 South around 10:30 a.m. to investigate the report of a man entering the store, waving a gun and demanding money.
The suspect, described as a white male of medium build and dark hair, escaped on foot with approximately $600. Authorities believe he had a vehicle parked near the crime scene.
No one was injured during the commission of the crime.
Law officers reported that witnesses described the man as wearing a black, long sleeved shirt and light colored shorts. Anyone with information or who might have observed something around the area is asked to call the sheriff’s department tip line at (706) 635-TIPS (8477).
While officers and investigators were at the crime scene, they received a call reporting that a homeowner had arrived at his home on Sunlight Road to find two males burglarizing his residence. He gave officers a description of the two men and their vehicle.
Det. Ricky Henry spotted the suspects on Roundtop Road and gave chase. Henry arrested Brandon Hall, 17, of a Whitfield County address, and he was charged with three counts of burglary. Joshua Croy, 17, of a Gordon County address, was arrested and charged with two counts of being party to a crime, and a 16 year-old juvenile from Murray County was charged with three counts of burglary.
A search of their vehicle produced evidence that connected them to the Sunlight Road burglary and a residential burglary on Berean Church Road. Other evidence recovered has been linked to at least 16 other burglaries in Whitfield, Murray, and Gordon counties.
Investigators are also investigating other burglaries in the southern part of the county. The Shops of Coosawattee on Hwy. 382 was burglarized during the early morning hours of June 22. Some cash and other small merchandise was taken from the store. Later Tuesday evening, a residence was burglarized on Hwy. 382 where perpetrators took jewelry. During the waning hours of Tuesday or early hours of Wednesday, June 23, Airport Grocery was burglarized and vandalized.
Det. Stacy Nicholson also told the Times-Courier five “large burglaries” had occurred at houses under construction in the Clear Creek/Burnt Mountain Road area. A number of carpentry tools and building materials have been taken at those locations.
Nicholson encouraged anyone with information about any of these crimes to call the tip line.