Toccoa Man Facing Multiple Charges After Five-Hour Manhunt
By Jessica Waters, WNEG Radio, Toccoa
A Toccoa man who shot at Stephens County Sheriff’s Deputies is now behind bars facing multiple charges.
26-year-old Tristen Levi Grafton was taken into custody without incident Monday night after a five-hour manhunt that closed down streets in two locations on opposite sides of the county and put schools and daycares on lockdown.
Shortly after Grafton’s arrest, Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley said investigators and Georgia Bureau of Investigation Agents received a tip that Grafton was at a Persimmon Street residence.
The Sheriff said deputies, GBI agents, and Toccoa Police surrounded the residence and ordered Grafton to surrender.
A 9 mm semi-automatic handgun was recovered after consent was given to search the residence.
Grafton’s arrest came as the result of a domestic dispute between neighbors that started Sunday and continued into Monday in the Christine Circle community of Stephens County.
According to the Sheriff, Grafton, had been walking along Christine Circle late Sunday and had allegedly shot a dog belonging to a resident in the 300 block of Christine Circle with a small-caliber rifle.
On Monday afternoon, Grafton returned to the home where he had shot the dog, and an argument ensued with a resident there.
Grafton then allegedly shot at the resident but missed, and the man called 9-1-1.
When Stephens County Sheriff’s Deputies arrived on the scene, Grafton, who had run behind the Christine Circle home, fired more shots.
Shirely said a patrol vehicle was struck by bullets that may have ricocheted off of nearby trees. No officers were injured during the encounter with Grafton, according to the Sheriff.
20 to 30 Georgia State Patrol Troopers were at a meeting at the GSP Post 7 responded to the scene immediately to help with the investigation and search for Grafton.
GSP Swat team members, officers from the Toccoa Police Department, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, numerous DNR Rangers, and members of the Appalachian Drug Task Force assisted in the search, along with GSP helicopter assistance.
At the time of his arrest, Grafton was charged with three counts of assault on a peace officer but would face additional charges including charges related to the shots fired at the Christine Circle resident.
No law enforcement officials or members of the public were hurt during the gunfire on Christine Circle, and the dog reportedly survived the gunshot wound received Sunday night.
Grafton is also a person of interest in a shooting that happened September 8 on Davis Ave in Toccoa.
Shirley stated, “The Stephens County Sheriff’s Office wishes to thank our public safety partners with the GBI, Georgia State Patrol Troopers from the Toccoa and Hartwell Posts, the Toccoa Police, and multiple DNR Rangers.”