What began as a dispute between neighbors turned into a manhunt Monday night in Clarkesville. It ended with the arrest of one man who deputies say threatened to shoot them.
Police apprehended 50-year-old Charles Phillip Hunter of Clarkesville around 1 a.m. Tuesday, April 26. A Georgia State Patrol helicopter involved in the search spotted Hunter at the Clearview apartments on Robertson Loop Road. Assistant Demorest Police Chief Casey Chastain who was also assisting with the search, took him into custody.
Authorities charged Hunter with five felony counts and three misdemeanors in connection with the incident.
According to Habersham County Sheriff’s Public Information Officer Kevin Angell, around 9:30 p.m. Monday, deputies were dispatched to a report of a neighbor dispute in the 1200 block of Robertson Loop Road.
“It started off as a neighborhood dispute between two neighbors in which Mr. Hunter knocked on a neighbor’s door and, upon leaving, kicked the door.” Upon returning to his own residence, Hunter then reportedly broke a window.
Deputies say they spoke with the neighbor then went to talk with Hunter.
“When they did, Mr. Hunter came out of a backroom in his residence and threatened to shoot the deputies,” Angell says. “He had a bloody hand and what appeared to be an inhaler in his hand.”
Deputies retreated from the residence to wait for backup. As they were waiting, they say they saw Hunter flee into the woodline. They did not know whether Hunter was armed. As a precaution, the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office urged the public to stay away from the search area and to lock their windows and doors.
During the search, the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office launched its new heat-seeking drone unit and requested assistance from the GSP Aviation Unit, Georgia Department of Corrections and Banks County Sheriff’s K9 Units. Officers from the Alto, Clarkesville, and Demorest police departments also assisted in the manhunt.
“GSP’s aviation unit was able to help us find the general direction of where Mr. Hunter was hiding. Ultimately, Mr. Hunter came out of the woods and was apprehended by a Demorest officer,” says Angell.
Deputies booked Hunter into the Habersham County Detention Center on multiple charges including two counts of terroristic threats and acts, two counts of simple assault, obstructing law enforcement, possession of meth and a controlled substance, and bringing contraband across guard lines.
Hunter was booked at the Habersham County Detention Center and was later released on a $39,000 bond.
This article has been updated
