A Gainesville man remains in the Hall County Jail following his arrest for fleeing a traffic stop in the northeastern part of the county.
34-year-old Joseph Russell Harris faces numerous charges, including drug trafficking and weapons charges.
Investigators say on the afternoon of Thursday, August 31, a Hall County deputy attempted to stop a male driver, later identified as Harris, after he observed the man attempting to secure his seatbelt while driving on Clarks Bridge Road in the area of Honeysuckle Drive. The deputy also determined Harris’ tag was expired.
A spokesperson for the Hall County Sheriff’s Office says, initially, Harris stopped his vehicle, but as the deputy exited his patrol vehicle to talk with him, Harris sped away.
The deputy followed Harris to a residence on Autry Spur. Harris exited his vehicle and ran. The deputy called for backup to search for Harris. The deputy also conducted a search of Harris’ vehicle after he reported smelling the odor of marijuana coming from the car.
“During the search, the deputy found two weapons and a plastic bag filled with a crystal-like substance. Drug investigators also responded,” says Hall County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer B.J. Williams.
Deputies used a drone to find Harris. They took him into custody without incident.
Williams says HCSO drug investigators confirmed the substance in the plastic bag was methamphetamine. According to the sheriff’s office, the bag contained just over one pound of meth with a street value of approximately $34,000.
Authorities also say they determined that a handgun they found during their search had been stolen.
Harris was initially charged with the following misdemeanor offenses:
- Safety belt violation
- Operating a vehicle with an expired tag
- Driving while license suspended
- Obstruction of an officer
- Fleeing or attempting to elude
- Hold for another county
On Saturday, September 2, investigators also charged Harris with trafficking in illegal drugs, two felony counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, theft by receiving (related to the stolen weapon), and obstruction of an officer for refusing commands to show his hands to a jail officer.
As of Monday, September 11, Harris remained in the Hall County jail.
