Families from across Northwest Georgia are invited to Camp Sidney Dew next Saturday for a free family event featuring emergency vehicles, first responders, outdoor education and Scouting activities.
A Georgia fugitive wanted out of Floyd County was taken into custody in Cherokee County, Alabama, after authorities say he ran from deputies and jumped into Weiss Lake.
According to the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, deputies went to a campground in the Wildwood Cove area off County Road 182 Tuesday afternoon to serve a warrant for the Floyd County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies located 33-year-old Eric Carl Virta of Cartersville, Georgia. Authorities say that when deputies attempted to take Virta into custody, he ran and jumped into the water. Virta reportedly crossed to the other side and entered the Kirk’s Grove/Mud Creek area.
Deputies responded to that area and searched for more than an hour before finding Virta hiding in a swampy area in Mud Creek. He was taken into custody without further incident, and no injuries were reported.
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Marine Patrol transported Virta and the deputies back across the water by boat.
Virta was wanted in Floyd County on a probation violation connected to charges involving possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, and terroristic threats and acts.
He was also charged in Cherokee County with fugitive from justice and attempting to elude.
The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office thanked ALEA, the Leesburg Police Department and the Cedar Bluff Police Department for their assistance.
Photo Credit: Coosa Valley News
An adult retail store on Shorter Avenue in Rome is temporarily closed after authorities seized merchandise from the business Thursday as part of an ongoing civil dispute.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has been asked to conduct an independent investigation after a man suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound while officers were serving warrants Tuesday afternoon in Floyd County.
A Floyd County man is facing a felony charge after authorities say he seriously injured a dog with a machete at a Rome hotel.
According to Floyd County Jail records, 25-year-old Joseph Robert Bisher was arrested Wednesday and charged with aggravated cruelty to animals following an incident at a hotel on Martha Berry Boulevard.
Investigators allege Bisher struck a dog named “Oreo” with a machete, causing a deep laceration.
According to the arrest report, when questioned about the incident, Bisher allegedly told authorities he did not want to strike his girlfriend, so he struck the dog instead.
The case remains under investigation.
A Floyd County Sheriff’s deputy was arrested early Saturday morning following a traffic stop on Turner McCall Boulevard in Rome.
According to reports, city police stopped 32-year-old Matthew Zachery Fuller of Silver Creek after officers noticed him failing to maintain his lane of travel.
During the traffic stop, officers said they determined Fuller was driving under the influence.
Fuller was taken into custody and charged with DUI and failure to maintain lane.