Suspect in Avalon Foot Chase Identified

By Charlie Bauder, WNEG Radio, Toccoa

We now know the identity of the suspect, wanted in Franklin County, who was arrested in Avalon Tuesday after a lengthy foot chase.

Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley says the man is identified as 36-year-old Justin Hixson of East Silver Shoals Road in Toccoa.  The Sheriff said  it all started several days ago with a lookout placed for Hixson by the Franklin County Sheriff’s office.  Hixson was spotted by a Department of Natural Resources ranger at Yonah Dam, but fled.

Then on Tuesday morning, Shirley said a deputy spotted Hixon’s vehicle in the area of Eastanollee and Mccurley Roads.

“One of my deputies positively spotted a suspect (Hixson) that we had been looking for for Franklin County for several days,” said Shirley. “DNR had initially encountered him and (Hixson) ran away on foot. That was a couple of days ago.”

Shirley said when the deputy tried to pull Hixson over, he got of the vehicle and ran.

“We set up a perimeter and called in K-9 bloodhounds to help in tracking him and as a result, we were able to push him even further into a wooded area,” said Shirley.

About three hours after the search started, deputies were dispatched to a home on Sundown Farm Road in the Avalon Community.

There, a homeowner had reportedly found a man matching Hixson’s description hiding in their barn.   That homeowner later told authorities she became afraid when she said Hixson allegedly started coming towards her.

 “He approached a female and to his surprise, she was ready for him,” said Shirley. “He got very close to her and at that time, she pulled her weapon and fired several shots in his direction. At that time, he turned around and ran.”

Shirley says deputies and k-9 units from the Department Of Corrections then picked Hixson’s trail back up and found him shortly afterwards hiding under an embankment by a creek bed several hundred yards away from the barn.

In Stephens County, Hixson faces charges of obstruction of law enforcement officer and criminal trespass, but more charges could be brought.

 Franklin County Sheriff Stevie Thomas says Hixson is also wanted in Franklin County on a felony probation violation.   For now, Hixson remains in the Stephens County Detention Center.