A stolen vehicle investigation led to the arrest of a suspect with outstanding warrants, drug possession charges, and connections to theft and burglary cases in Tennessee, according to a report released by the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office.

On March 27th, Sheriff Mark Schrader was alerted to a possible stolen vehicle, a bronze 2014 Kia Optima, traveling northbound on Highway 27 near Pennville. After locating the vehicle north of Mountain View Road, Sheriff Schrader followed it while awaiting confirmation of its stolen status from dispatch. Upon confirmation, Sheriff Schrader initiated a traffic stop near the intersection of Highway 27 and Stoleman Road. The driver, initially identifying herself as Lisa Diane Atkins, admitted she suspected the vehicle might be reported stolen and claimed she was returning it to a Big Lots parking lot in Fort Oglethorpe on behalf of her aunt. She stated the vehicle had been retrieved from a building in Alabama after being left there by a cousin.

Following the driver’s apprehension, a search of the vehicle uncovered multiple bags of women’s clothing and makeup. A Nike tennis shoe containing a pill bottle with the label removed was also found. The bottle contained 26 white round tablets marked ‘TEVA 3925,’ suspected to be 2 mg Diazepam.

Later, a Chattooga County Jail Officer identified the suspect as Haley Neal, not Lisa Atkins. A background check revealed an outstanding warrant for Neal through the Chattooga County Jail.

Investigators with the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office coordinated with detectives in Hamilton County, Tennessee, who confirmed that Haley Neal was the primary suspect in both the vehicle theft and a burglary case. Tennessee authorities are reportedly planning to obtain warrants for her arrest in connection with these crimes.