A 64-year-old man faces multiple charges, including criminal trespass and obstruction of officers, after a confrontation early Tuesday morning resulted in a property owner firing a warning shot and holding the suspect at gunpoint until deputies arrived.

Jeffery Baxter Hines, 64, was arrested on October 29, 2025, after being found allegedly prowling on private property located at 146 Rose Cir, the site of Gary’s Towing impound lot. Hines was ultimately restrained by officers using a Taser after reportedly resisting arrest.

According to a report filed by Deputy G. Whitworth of the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office, officers were dispatched around 2:00 AM to a call regarding a prowler who was being held at gunpoint.

Confrontation on Private Property

Upon arrival, Deputy Whitworth, Deputy A. Garmany, and Trion Police Officer Braden Peace observed property owner Gary Rape holding a firearm pointed toward Mr. Hines, who was seated on the ground in front of the fenced impound lot.

Mr. Rape, who owns the towing company, told officers that Mr. Hines had been previously trespassed from the property. He stated that his security cameras had been triggered, and he observed Mr. Hines prowling around his garage and near a vehicle parked outside the impound lot fence.

Mr. Rape retrieved his firearm after his wife, Rebecca Johnson, called 911. When he looked outside, he reported that Mr. Hines attempted to hide behind a parked vehicle.

The situation escalated when Mr. Rape gave verbal commands for Mr. Hines to get down. According to the report, Mr. Hines began approaching the armed property owner, leading Mr. Rape to fire a single shot in front of the suspect’s foot. At that point, Mr. Hines complied and sat on the ground, where he was held until law enforcement arrived.

Resistance Leads to Taser Deployment

When questioned by officers about his presence on the property at 2:00 AM, Mr. Hines allegedly stated he was just “walking on Rose Cir.” Deputy Whitworth noted in the report that Mr. Hines was located in the back area of the private property, not on the public roadway, and had “no business being there.”

Officers attempted to place Mr. Hines under arrest for Criminal Trespass and Loitering or Prowling. As Deputy Whitworth began restraining the suspect, Mr. Hines reportedly began resisting arrest, pulling away from all three officers present.

To gain control, the arresting officer conducted a leg sweep to bring Mr. Hines to the ground. During the struggle, Deputy Garmany reportedly deployed a Taser while the officers successfully restrained Mr. Hines’s wrists with handcuffs.

Mr. Hines was then assisted to his feet and transported to the Chattooga County Jail.

Jeffery Baxter Hines, 64, was booked on charges of:

Criminal Trespass
Loitering or Prowling
Obstruction of Officers (Misdemeanor)