Domestic Dispute Leads to Arrest, Kidnapping Charges in Stephens County

By Charlie Bauder, WNEG Radio, Toccoa

In Stephens County, a man faces multiple charges after an alleged domestic incident.

Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley said deputies were dispatched to a residence on Old Mize Road in reference to a domestic dispute just before 1 p.m. Tuesday.

According to the Sheriff, the female called 911 saying she was being held against her will and had been hit in the face.

However, the Shirley says the suspect fled just before deputies arrived.

“When deputies arrived, the female stated that her boyfriend had taken her six-month-old child and fled into the woods,” said Shirley. “As deputies gave chase, they lost him. About a half hour into the search of the area, after a perimeter was set up, the suspect came out of the woods and laid the six-month-old child down and then took off running again.”

Deputies, along with tracking K-9’s from the Georgia Department Of Corrections continued the search for the suspect, while Stephens County EMS checked out the child, who was determined to be OK.

Sheriff Shirley says his office also put out a lookout on social media regarding the suspect.

“We got one call from that,” said Shirley. “They saw a gentleman fitting the description that was given walking up Broad River Road. It was in fact the suspect and he was arrested without incident.”

The suspect is identified as 26-year-old Jeremy Maney.

The sheriff says Maney is charged under the Georgia Family Violence Act with kidnapping, simple battery, cruelty to children in the third degree, and obstruction of a law enforcement officer.

In addition, Maney also has outstanding warrants in Hart County for violating his probation.

Maney is currently being held in the Stephens County Jail awaiting a first court appearance.