A series of events unfolded early Monday morning leading to the arrest of the driver, Christopher Hodge, 47, of Dallas, Georgia after a hit-and-run accident and a burglary at a local self-storage facility.
Hit and run
Habersham County E-911 dispatched Baldwin Police and Fire departments at approximately 12:50 a.m. Monday morning, December 2, to a reported hit-and-run accident on Duncan Bridge Road near GA 365.
Upon arrival, officers learned that a black passenger car traveling westbound had struck the rear of an SUV traveling eastbound. The collision caused the SUV to lose control and veer off the roadway, causing injuries to one of its passengers. The driver of the black passenger car, however, fled the scene.
While responding to the crash, Baldwin officers were informed by Habersham County E-911 of a burglary alarm at 365 Self Storage. The storage facility is located behind Swinehart’s Power Equipment on GA 365. Officers from Baldwin Police, along with assistance from Alto Police Department, arrived at the facility to find the automatic gate had been struck and pushed inward by a vehicle.
Burglary
Upon further investigation, officers reviewed the facility’s security camera footage, which showed the suspect vehicle ramming through the gate and entering the storage area, but not exiting.
Officers began searching the storage units and located the suspect’s vehicle inside an unlocked unit. The driver, identified as Hodge, was found sitting in the driver’s seat and taken into custody without incident.
The damage to the gate at 365 Self Storage is estimated to be more than $15,000. In addition to the damage, officers discovered marijuana, methamphetamine, and open containers of alcohol inside the vehicle.
According to Baldwin Police Chief Chris Jones, Georgia State Patrol (GSP) is handling the traffic-related charges stemming from the initial hit and run accident and damage to the gate at the storage facility. Baldwin Police Department is investigating the burglary and related offenses.
Hodge was booked into the Habersham County Detention Center and charged with burglary, criminal damage to property, possession of marijuana, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug-related objects, hit and run-failure to stop and render aid, possession of open alcohol container, DUI, and failure to maintain insurance. His bond was set at $16,059.
Authorities continue to investigate both incidents and more charges are pending. Now Habersham has reached out to GSP for more information. This story will be updated once that information is made available.
