by Al Summers
News Editor
alsummers@timescourier.com
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Officers from all three law enforcement jurisdictions in Gilmer County had a hand in putting a suspected rapist behind bars Monday, May 15.
According to Det. Carol Daves of the Gilmer County Sheriff’s Department’s Criminal Investigation Division (CID), a 16-year-old Hispanic male was arrested around 8:30 a.m., by deputies Shane Bowman, Frank Copeland, Leon Davenport, and Det. Lane Bennett after he was recognized as a suspect in a rape that occurred Wednesday, May 10, in the Whitestone area of Gilmer County.
The victim of the crime, a 21-year old caucasian, left an East Ellijay restaurant with two Hispanic males, and according to her, she was taken to a location in southern Gilmer County and raped.
Before her attackers could leave her in the woods, she convinced them to take her to a friend’s house and drop her off.
The perpetrators left a trail of evidence that was collected and secured by Sgt. Billy Brackett of the Gilmer County Sheriff’s Department who turned it over to Daves. From Wednesday until the time of the arrest, law officers from the sheriff’s department, East Ellijay, and Ellijay were looking for the suspect.
The driver of the vehicle is still at large and detectives from the CID are continuing to work the case. The juvenile is being held in a youth detention center but will be charged as an adult.