Fire ants attack man during traffic stop investigation

The male was a passenger in a vehicle which had been stopped for failing to come to a complete stop at the intersection of Horton Street and Bill Rutledge Road.

Once the driver of the vehicle pulled over, two of the occupants exited the car and fled.

The deputy briefly chased the two males, but lost them as they ran towards Clifton Drive. The deputy called for backup and returned to the vehicle to question the remaining occupants. As he approached the vehicle, the deputy saw a long, black tube which he believed to be the barrel of a gun. The deputy drew his weapon and, once backup arrived, ordered the occupants from the vehicle and placed them in handcuffs.

Just as the deputy determined the black tube was a metal rod and not part of a gun, one of the handcuffed males began screaming.

Two deputies helped the man to his feet and discovered that he was being bitten by fire ants. The deputies brushed the ants off the man and continued their investigation.

The ant bite victim said he did not know the two men who fled from the vehicle. The driver also said he did not know the two men, but thought they were from Athens. The other occupant said he thought the two guys might be cousins with the last name of Smith, but said he was not certain.

The three men were released from the scene shortly thereafter. The two males who fled were not located.

Other recent incidents investigated by Barrow County Sheriff’s deputies include:

•criminal trespass on Hwy. 211. The owner of a rental property found the ex-boyfriend of one of his tenants inside the vacated mobile home without permission.

•suspicious incident on Fletcher Drive. A woman called the Sheriff’s Office after hearing a rustling noise outside her home.

•burglary on Hilldale Circle. A woman reported several pieces of jewelry missing. There were no signs of forced entry and the doors had been locked when the woman arrived home and discovered the theft.

•theft by taking on Chancey Circle. A man discovered 1,400 feet of copper wiring had been stolen out of his chicken house. The total value of the wire was estimated at $710.

•harassing phone calls on Hog Mountain Road. A woman said she received a threatening phone call from the mother of a person who was arrested for stealing the woman’s computer.

•suspicious incident on Creekwood Road. A woman was home alone when she thought she heard someone open her back door. There was no sign of an intruder.

•business dispute on Hog Mountain Road. A man said he left his vehicle at an automotive shop in November of 2009 and has not heard from the mechanic since.

•forgery on Manning Gin Road. A woman called authorities after learning a check for $2,500 had been drawn against her checking account. The check was made out to Laquevas Hunter. The victim said she had not written the check, nor had she authorized anyone to write it on her behalf.

•harassing phone calls on Jones Road. A man reported his ex-wife for making numerous texts and calls to him regarding the fact that he owes more than $1,800 in child support.

•complaint on Lois Kinney Road. A woman reported that an air conditioning unit and screen door were missing from a neighboring foreclosed home. The woman was concerned that criminal activity was taking place at the property.

•criminal trespass on Jefferson Highway. An employee arrived for work at a gas station and found the front glass door had been shattered.

•verbal dispute on Eastbrook Drive. A woman said she and her ex-boyfriend had an argument because she wanted to reconcile and he did not. The woman then accused her ex of sleeping with other women.

•agency assist on Nunnally Road. The batteries in a truck caught on fire.

•theft by shoplifting on Loganville Highway. A store clerk witnessed a black male take one pill, believed to be a headache pill. The man left the store without paying. The clerk was able to provide the deputy with a description of the suspect’s vehicle.

•criminal trespass on Doc McLocklin Road. A caller reported seeing a white Mustang go through a construction gate at the Georgia Club. When deputies arrived, the gate appeared to be undamaged and the Mustang was not located.

•financial identity fraud on King’s Court. A woman said her Bank of America debit card number was used nine times in California without her knowledge or permission. The total amount stolen was $2,197.

•burglary on Sweet Apple Lane. Appliances and fixtures valued at approximately $2,250 were stolen out of a bank owned vacant home.

•complaint on Bird Hammond Road. A man wanted to know if it was illegal for his wife to purchase beer from another establishment to sell at her employer’s gas station.

•theft by taking on Smith Cemetery Road. A man said his mother’s boyfriend stole his electric razor and a bowl of pennies.

•suspicious incident on East Wright Street. A woman heard a knock at her door and saw a black male putting trash in her garbage can. The man returned later and knocked again, but the woman did not answer the door.

•suspicious vehicle on Mulberry Road. A woman reported seeing a green truck drive past her residence ten to 15 times. The woman said the truck pulled into her driveway on one occasion, but left as she arrived home.

•burglary on Cavern Springs Drive. Jewelry and electronics were among the items taken from a residence. Entry to the home was made when someone kicked in the rear patio door.

•damaged property on Gainesville Highway. A tractor trailer backed into a carport after making a delivery.

•complaint on City Pond Road. A drunken man complained that two individuals had brought a set of wheels, a go cart and a chain saw to his house several days earlier. When asked why he had not reported the suspicious incident at that time, the man said the individuals had “papers” for the items.

•damage to vehicle on Hwy. 316. The tire on a woman’s car was flattened when she ran over a tool box which had fallen off a truck. The truck driver paid the woman for the damage to her tire.

•financial identity fraud on Huntington Trace. A woman’s debit account number was used three separate times to make a $161 charge at three Atlanta area Targets. The bank froze her account when a fourth $161 charge was attempted.

•private property accident on Atlanta Highway. A woman struck a gas pump causing a fuel spill.

•forgery on Christmas Avenue. A man attempted to pass a fake $20 bill at a gas station. The attendant said she did not believe the man realized it was a forgery.

•damage to property on Rockwell Church Road. The driver’s side window of a Nissan Pathfinder was broken. The woman suspects her exhusband may be responsible.

•theft by taking on Fred Kilcrease Road. Copper wire valued at $500 was reported stolen out of four chicken houses.

•theft by taking on Hwy. 211. A finishing mower valued at $1,000 was reported stolen.

•theft by taking on Mulberry Road. Copper wiring valued at $20,000 was reported stolen out of three chicken houses.

•suspicious activity on Lullwater Court. A man reported seeing a vehicle occupied by two black males parked at a vacant home. When the man confronted the males, they immediately left the area. The garage to the home was found to be unsecured, but there was no damage to the home.

•agency assist on Cardinal Lane. Barrow County Sheriff’s deputies accompanied officers with the University of Georgia Police Department during the service of a search warrant.

•battery on Mulberry Road. A man said four or five males were walking up the road when one of the males came into his driveway and started hitting him. The victim said he did not know who the men were or why the man attacked him.

•criminal trespass on Pendergrass Road. A man made an unwanted visit to a residence after discovering the mother of his child had notified child support recovery services of his whereabouts.

•pedestrian struck by vehicle. A woman and her five-yearold son were struck as they walked across the parking lot to Publix. The woman suffered a twisted ankle and the child had a small scratch on his finger.

•burglary on Lathan Court. An alert neighbor interrupted a burglary in progress. Evidence at the scene indicated the burglar had been trying to steal copper pipe from the vacant residence.

•neighborhood complaint on Nunnally Road. A man said people have been riding four-wheelers in his hay field causing damage to his crop.

•theft by taking on Hog Mountain Road. An air conditioning unit valued at $1,700 was stolen off a recently vacated rental property.

•theft by taking on Huckleberry Lane. A man said his friend stole $340 from him. The man said his friend has a drug problem and frequently visits the Auburn methadone clinic.

•theft by conversion on Evergreen Road. A woman said she paid $2,425 to Southeastern Roofing and Restoration last year for a new roof. The company has yet to do any of the contracted work and has been the subject of numerous complaints. The woman said she has sworn out a warrant for the arrest of the company owner.

•burglary on Water Wheel Drive. Several pieces of jewelry were reported stolen.

•suspicious activity on Pinecrest Road. A man reported seeing a prowler in his back yard. The deputy located the prowler who claimed to be a neighbor out for some exercise.

•entering auto on Remington Circle. The passenger side front window of a Chevrolet Tahoe was broken. No items were reported stolen.

•entering auto on Kailie Drive. The passenger side rear window of a Dodge Ram was broken. No items were reported stolen.

•burglary on Foxdale Road. A couple returned home and discovered a burgundy minivan parked in front of their home. The couple checked their residence and realized it had been burglarized. By the time they looked outside, the van was gone.

•burglary on Sedgefield Way. A man said his home was burglarized while he was in jail. Nothing was reported missing, but the victim said someone had definitely been inside his home.

•criminal damage to property on Austin Road. Approximately 1,200’ of copper wire was discovered wrapped in a sheet. The wire had been stripped from a chicken house. The property owner said he saw a white male and white female in a gray passenger car on the property. He believes they may have been enroute to pick up the wiring when he confronted them about being on the property. The pair drove away after the victim asked them what they were doing.

•theft on Wall Road. A bronze lion statue was reported stolen.

•harassment on Ridgeview Road. A man said he has been harassed via phone, email, Craigslist and Facebook since April. The man does not know who is responsible for the harassment.