A suspected car thief who allegedly tried to outrun authorities and then wielded a hatchet at them after wrecking is behind bars in Rabun County.
According to the Rabun County Sheriff’s Office, a deputy tried to pull the suspect over after the tag on the Ford Explorer he was driving came back as stolen.
“After entering Habersham County, the driver lost control of the Ford Explorer and spun out, where he was surrounded by law enforcement from multiple agencies,” the Rabun County Sheriff’s Office says.
The sheriff’s office says the suspect, later identified as Charles Austin Lawrence, exited the wrecked vehicle wielding a hatchet toward law enforcement officers.
Deputies on scene from the Rabun County Sheriff’s Office, Habersham County Sheriff’s Office, and Clayton Police Department were able to “safely de-escalate the situation” and took Lawrence into custody without further incident.
Deputies booked Lawrence at the Rabun County jail following the incident on Monday, August 21. They charged him with multiple felonies including fleeing and attempting to elude a police officer and three counts of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer. They also charged Lawrence with theft by receiving, possession of a Schedule II controlled substance, reckless driving, and driving without a valid license.
The sheriff’s office says no law enforcement personnel were injured and no vehicles were damaged during the pursuit.
