Franklin, Hart Co Deputies, GSP Post 52 Assist in Active Shooter Incident in Stephens Co

Jessica Waters, WNEG Radio, Toccoa

Deputies with the Franklin and Hart County Sheriff’s offices, along with Troopers from GSP Post 52 in Hartwell were among the many law enforcement officers who descended on Stephens County this week to assist in the capture of a Cleveland man considered armed and dangerous.

It happened Tuesday afternoon, according to Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley when one of his deputies tried to pull over a black Ford Fusion on the Toccoa Bypass near Highway 145.

According to the Sheriff, the driver of the Ford sped off and a high-speed chase up the Bypass ensued reaching speeds of up to 90 mph.

The driver then turned onto Highway 106 and then down a dirt road near Old Mize Road.

Shirley said the suspect, identified as 30-year-old Brandon Richard Nash of Cleveland, then jumped out of the vehicle and fled on foot into the wooded area behind the residence. The deputy continued to chase Nash on foot through the woods.

As Nash ran, he dropped a backpack, which was later found to have more than 8 ounces of suspected methamphetamine, bags of prepackaged marijuana, and digital weighing scales.

Shirley said Nash at one point fell on the ground, the deputy then drew his duty weapon and began giving commands to him but Nash got up and lunged at the deputy, grabbing the deputy’s duty weapon.

A struggle for the deputy’s duty weapon ensued during which a shot was fired, but it did not strike Nash.

The Sheriff said Nash continued running down an embankment and allegedly fired a handgun at the deputy. The deputy then lost sight of the subject in the thick wooded area.

As law enforcement searched for Nash, the Sheriff posted a lookout on Facebook for a suspect he listed as armed and dangerous.

Then at about 5:30p Tuesday evening, Stephens County Dispatch notified the Sheriff’s Office of a male subject at a residence at the end of Pine Villa Drive, called in by a private citizen, who matched the description given out by law enforcement.

“According to the caller, the male subject was asking the resident for a ride and appeared to have been swimming and running through the woods. Deputies then arrived on the scene and took Nash into custody,” Sheriff Shirley said.

Nash was taken to the Stephens County Jail and remains in jail on charges including Trafficking in Methamphetamine, Aggravated Assault on Law Enforcement, Attempted removal of a weapon from a Law Enforcement Officer, and Obstructing or Hindering Law Enforcement.

Sheriff Shirley said more charges are likely. At the time of his arrest, Nash was on federal parole.

A female passenger in the Fusion, identified as Melissa Grizzle, was also arrested following an investigation for Trafficking in Methamphetamine.

“I’d like to thank the Georgia State Patrol Posts 7 and 52, Georgia Department of Corrections, Toccoa Police Department, Hart County Sheriff’s Office, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Rabun County Sheriff’s Office, Hall County, Cleveland Office, and the Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office as well as vigilant members of the community who helped apprehend this subject,” the Sheriff said.

Shirley said the investigation into the incident is still actively ongoing.