Charles Timothy Battles, the subject of an intensive search following a devastating residential fire on Saturday, was apprehended Sunday afternoon in Gordon County. Battles, who was on probation for a previous aggravated stalking conviction, now faces charges including Attempted Murder, Arson, and Aggravated Stalking.

Gordon County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Battles inside a private residence near the Scottsville community. Authorities stated that Battles was surprised by the arresting officers and taken into custody without incident, crediting the “invaluable help of our private citizens” for his capture.

The arrest on Sunday stems from events that unfolded early Saturday morning. At approximately 6 a.m., deputy sheriffs and Gordon County Fire Rescue responded to a residential structure fire on Johnson Drive. The home was occupied at the time by a woman and a small child, both of whom “barely escaped with their lives” as the structure was completely destroyed.

Following an initial investigation, Sheriff’s detectives on Saturday filed two counts of Attempted Murder and Arson against Battles. Investigators have since recovered “an abundance of evidence: physical, electronic, and testimonial” linking Battles to the crime. The State Fire Marshal’s Office is actively assisting in the ongoing case.

Battles is no stranger to the legal system. He had previously been arrested by the Gordon County Sheriff’s Office for Aggravated Stalking, a charge to which he pled guilty in Superior Court in October. He was serving a sentence of probation at the time of these most recent events.

Chattooga County Sheriff Mark Schrader confirmed that Battles has a history of multiple arrests on various charges in Chattooga County before he moved to Gordon County approximately five years ago.

Gordon County Sheriff Mitch Ralston expressed his gratitude to all agencies involved in securing Battles’ arrest. “It was important that this matter be resolved quickly given the nature and severity of these crimes,” Sheriff Ralston stated. He specifically thanked his staff, the Calhoun Police Department, the State Fire Marshal’s Office for their hard work, and particularly lauded the private citizens who provided critical information to the Gordon County Sheriff’s Office.

“Everyone involved worked around the clock to bring this defendant in, and now he will be held accountable in our courts,” Ralston added.