Three Facing Mulitple Charges After Caught With Stolen Vehicle

 

Three people are behind bars in Franklin County after one allegedly stole a vehicle out of a neighboring County.

It happened Wednesday morning when Franklin County Sheriff Steve Thomas said his office was notified regarding a stolen vehicle from Habersham County.

“Deputies located the vehicle at a residence on Lewis Drive in the Brittany Harbor South neighborhood of the Gumlog community. The tag displayed on the vehicle was the same, but the color of the vehicle was altered from white to black with spray paint,” he said.

That’s when Thomas said his Deputies requested the assistance of investigators.

“During the investigation, a black male began backing out of the driveway on Lewis Drive and almost struck one of the county vehicles. The driver then jumped out and ran. At that point, deputies requested assistance from the Stephen County Sheriff’s Office K9 Units, which were able to track and locate the suspect who was hiding under another trailer nearby,” the Sheriff said.

Arrested was 33-year-old Roger Laquarius Neal, of Toccoa who is charged with Theft by Taking/Automobile. A hold was also placed on Neal for outstanding warrants in Stephens County.

While deputies were dealing with Neal, Thomas said another vehicle pulled into the original driveway.

“When the driver saw law enforcement, he began to back out but deputies were able to get the vehicle stopped. The driver would not comply with deputies orders so he was also arrested,” Thomas added.

He is identified as 45-year-old Justin Hixson of Toccoa.

The Sheriff said drugs were located inside Hixson’s vehicle and he said it is believed that Hixson was attempting to deliver the drugs to the owner of the residence identified as 57-year-old Christopher Larry Spiva of Lavonia.

Hixson is charged with driving on a Suspended License, Possession of Methamphetamine, two counts of Obstruction of an Officer, Improper stopping in the roadway, and Improper backing.

“Investigators obtained a search warrant for Spiva’s trailer because he refused to answer the door or come out. Deputies eventually gained entry and located Spiva alone in the residence,” Thomas explained.

Spiva was arrested and is charged with Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and a Probation warrant out of the Hart County Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff Thomas thanked the Georgia State Patrol, Georgia State Patrol Aviation, Stephens County Sheriff’s Office Deputies, their K-9 Units, and the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office for a job well done.

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