Crime & Safety

Manhunt that Started in Barrow Continues

Oconee County's chief deputy identified the suspect as an 18-year-old Bethlehem resident.

UPDATE: 4:40 p.m.

The following message was posted on the Oconee County Sheriff's Office Facebook Page:

"We have evidence that STRONGLY suggests Kaleb Moss is located in Morgan Co and is NO LONGER IN OCONEE CO. Units are assigned to the Bishop/High Shoals area to respond quickly to any additional information. Morgan Co is leading the search effort."

UPDATE: 3:30 p.m. 

The search for the suspect continues.

The Barrow County Sheriff's Office provided the following information in a news release.

Kaleb Jordan Moss, a resident of Bethlehem, was driving a stolen 1998 red Dodge Dakota pickup truck when deputies attempted to stop him on Smith Mill Road.    Moss failed to stop and led deputies on a high speed chase that ended in Oconee County near the Morgan County line when the suspect drove into a ditch after failing to negotiate a turn. The suspect then fled on foot. Barrow deputies pursued him on foot initially, but were unable to apprehend him.

The vehicle was stolen on July 27 from Patrick's Towing at 328 Atlanta Highway S.E. A vehicle matching that description was seen in the area of 1455 Elise Drive in Bethlehem, when the residence was burglarized on July 29. The homeowner may have interrupted the burglary in progress when she arrived home, according to the release. There was no confrontation with the suspect at the burglary scene. Several firearms were taken and have not been recovered.  Other items from the burglary were recovered from the vehicle Moss was driving after the chase ended.

The suspect is described as a light-skinned black male, 6’ 2” tall, 240 pounds, with short dark hair. He is currently wanted out of Morgan County for burglary, robbery and aggravated battery and also out of Barrow County for burglary, theft by receiving, fleeing and attempting to elude and several other traffic charges.

The suspect is considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information of his whereabouts should contact the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office, Criminal Investigations Division, by calling 770-307-3080, ext. 3083.

Officials from the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office, Oconee County Sheriff’s Office, Morgan County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia State Patrol and City of Jefferson Police responded to assist in the search for the suspect. The search has involved the use of K-9s from several agencies and air support from the Georgia State Patrol.

More information will be released when it becomes available.

UPDATE: 12:39 p.m. 

Law enforcement are checking vehicles traveling throughout the area of the search perimeter. 

UPDATE: 12:33 p.m.

Oconee County Chief Deputy Lee Weems is in Morgan County and confirmed a helicopter is searching for the suspect. There is no active perimeter set in Oconee, but deputies are staged in the area of the county line ready to respond if needed.

UPDATE: 12:03 p.m. 

The search perimeter has moved to Morgan County between Riverwalk on the Apalachee subdivision and Rehoboth Road.

UPDATE: 11:35 a.m. 

Law enforcement officers spotted wanted fugitive Kaleb Jordan Moss sometime after 11 a.m. in the Price Mill Road area of Oconee County, near the Morgan County line. This continues to be a multi-agency pursuit. Morgan County Sheriff Robert Markley to Patch editor Stephanie Gross: "It's a hot situation right now. When it cools down, I can give you an update."

UPDATE: 

More than 16 hours after a car chase that originated in Barrow County turned into a foot pursuit in Oconee County, authorities say the suspect remains at large.

"We are still actively searching for the suspect in the Price Mill/Gober Road area," the Oconee County Sheriff's Office posted on Facebook about 8:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Check back with Patch for updates as new information becomes available.

UPDATE: 

At 11 p.m. Monday, Oconee County Chief Deputy Lee Weems confirmed the search for the suspect was ongoing. 

More information will be posted when it is made available. 

UPDATE:


As of 7:30 p.m. Monday, units were still in the area of Price Mill and Gober roads searching for the suspect. 

ORIGINAL REPORT: 

A manhunt that started in Barrow County has continued in the area of Price Mill and Gober roads in southern Oconee County. Law enforcement are searching for a burglary suspect who has fled into a wooded area. 

Oconee County Chief Deputy Lee Weems identified the suspect as 18-year-old Kaleb Jordan Moss of Bethlehem. He's wearing a black T-shirt with cutoff sleeves, according to a Nixle alert.

Barrow County deputies chased Moss down Ga. Highway 53 after he fled in a truck from a burglary, Weems said. The pursuit continued down Cole Springs Road to G. Highway 186 and the suspect eventually crashed a truck at the intersection of Gober and Price Mill roads and fled on foot into the nearby woods, he said.

Authorities have established a perimeter and are using K-9 units to assist in the search. An air unit has also been called, Weems said.

Along with Barrow and Oconee deputies, Walton and Morgan county agencies and the Georgia State Patrol are on the scene. Moss is believed to have stolen an AR 15 rifle , Weems said, and an empty rifle case was found in the truck.

"We have to take that into consideration," Weems explained. 

If spotted, authorities warn not to approach Moss. Call 911 immediately.
 
Moss is also wanted on a charge of aggravated assault out of Morgan County, according to Weems.  Lake Oconee News reports he's a suspect in the June 23 assault of an elderly Bostwick man.

Moss appeared in the Barrow Patch docket book in September 2012 on charges of possession of pistol or revolver by a minor and battery and again in November 2012 for probation violation and obstruction or hindering law enforcement.

More information will be posted when it becomes available. 

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