Authorities have released new details about an alleged crime spree that ultimately led to an officer-involved shooting Saturday in Cleveland.
The bizarre series of events began to unfold shortly after 11 a.m. on October 7 when Habersham E-911 dispatched emergency personnel to a reported vehicle fire at 562 Sutton Road in Demorest.
The fire was located at a detached shop that had been burglarized on the property. Firefighters quickly extinguished the fire, but not before it destroyed a Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck parked outside the shop.
After determining the fire was intentionally set, sheriff’s deputies secured the scene and called in the State Fire Investigations Unit. Deputies began investigating the burglary.
According to Habersham County Sheriff’s Investigator George Cason, a suspect in a box truck burglarized the property and then set the pickup truck on fire “after doing all his nefarious crimes here.”
The suspect left the scene at a high rate of speed in a rented Penske box truck, witnesses said.
But that was only the beginning, Cason said.
White County deputies tried to stop the truck on Highway 115 because furniture was falling out of the back. When the driver refused to stop, a chase ensued.
During the pursuit, White County Sheriff Rick Kelley says the suspect rammed a patrol vehicle, disabling it. Deputies then attempted several unsuccessful PIT maneuvers.
Later, on the Helen Highway, the suspect allegedly attempted to run over a deputy. At that point, deputies opened fire on the suspect, shooting him in the arm.
Cleveland police officers joined in the pursuit, and deputies were eventually able to wreck the offender in the parking lot of Jack P. Nix Elementary School on West Kytle Street in Cleveland.
Authorities identified the suspect as 53-year-old Alan Paul Heinze of Cleveland. White County deputies took him into custody. EMS transported him to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville for treatment of his injuries.
No law enforcement officers were injured during the incident, according to the sheriff. White County deputies charged Heinze with multiple offenses, including aggravated assault on a peace officer. Habersham County investigators have charged him with burglary, 2nd-degree arson, and driving with an unsecured load.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is investigating the officer-involved shooting. The Georgia State Patrol is investigating the wrecks.
“This case is active and ongoing,” says Sheriff Kelley.
Dean Dyer of WRWH Radio contributed to this report
