Inmate escapes into woods, manhunt commences; 3 days later, gun owner encounters fugitive outside his home



A Georgia homeowner on Thursday detained at gunpoint an inmate who had escaped into the woods and had been on the run for three days.

The Towns County Sheriff's Office said 39-year-old inmate Bruce Douglas Partin Jr. was on work detail Monday at the county dump when he escaped into the woods on Highway 288 around 2:30 p.m.

But Kirby had a gun on him, and authorities said he drew his weapon and ordered Partin to the ground. Partin complied.

The sheriff’s office deployed a drone and K-9 tracking dog with no success. Authorities said Partin was being housed in the Towns County Detention Center and was awaiting a court appearance on the following charges: purchase, possession, manufacture, distribution or sale of marijuana; theft by taking; probation violation; and burglary.

Authorities added that Partin was spotted on a trail camera at the end of Ivy Mountain Road in the Fodder Creek area Tuesday around 1:20 p.m. The sheriff's office Facebook post includes a pair of images showing Partin in the woods.

The sheriff's office added that Georgia State Patrol, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and the Department of Natural Resources all utilized every resource, including aerial patrol and K-9 units, to assist with the search for and capture of Partin. Authorities added that he was still at large as of 4:40 p.m. Tuesday.

Captured

The sheriff's office said a resident on Fodder Creek Road in the Gander Gap area spotted Partin in his orange jail uniform around 5:15 p.m. Thursday and called 911. With that, authorities said sheriff's deputies saturated the area in search of the suspect.

About two hours later, the sheriff's office said Steven Kirby — a resident who lives on Vester Road — was inside his home when Odie, his labradoodle, began aggressively alerting him to someone outside the residence.

The sheriff's office said Kirby went outside, and Partin — who's 6 feet, 4 inches tall — confronted him. But Kirby had a gun on him, and authorities said he drew his weapon and ordered Partin to the ground. Partin complied.

An image on the sheriff's Facebook page shows Kirby pointing a gun at Partin, who's facedown on the ground with his ankles crossed and his hands behind his back.

Authorities said Kirby’s wife, Amy, called 911, and sheriff’s deputies quickly arrived on the scene to take Partin into custody just after 7 p.m. Online maps indicate Partin was captured around six miles southwest of the area where he made his escape.

The sheriff's office said Kirby noted that he's committed to protecting his family and property from harm.

Authorities said Sheriff Ken Henderson expressed gratitude toward the Fodder Creek community for their vigilance and assistance, but most of all to Kirby for his courage and willingness to act: “It is truly a pleasure to work in a community where we can count on the ongoing support of citizens like Mr. Kirby to stand behind us and, in cases like this, even physically aid us when necessary."

What's more, the Kirby family on Friday received the $500 reward offered for information leading to Partin's arrest — and Steven Kirby and his dog Odie got a commendation.

Image source: Towns County (Ga.) Sheriff's Office

"Sheriff Henderson strongly supports the 2nd Amendment and the right to bear arms and was thankful that Mr. Kirby's instincts kicked in, and he went above and beyond to not only protect his family and property but his community as well," the sheriff's office Facebook entry said.

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'Get out before I kill you!' Carjacker presses gun against Uber driver's head — but victim doesn't allow things to go down without a fight



Video captured inside a vehicle in Houston shows a carjacker pressing a gun against an Uber driver's head and ordering him to "get out before I kill you!"

However, KRIV-TV reported that the driver wasn't about to let the crime proceed without a fight.

What are the details?

While the crime took place Oct. 18 last year, Houston Police Robbery released video of the terrifying encounter Tuesday.

KRIV said the driver — named Dovran — picked up two riders around 4 p.m. near Westheimer and South Voss Roads. The station said that during the ride, the pair changed their drop-off location to an apartment complex on Dunvale Road.

But when the driver reached that location, things turned violent, KRIV said.

One of the suspects — who wasn't wearing a mask over his face — reached forward and tried to grab Dovran's phone.

Image source: Twitter video screenshot via @hpdrobbery

Then the second suspect — who was wearing blue surgical mask — took things further.

"The second one put a gun to my head," Dovran recalled to the station.

Image source: Twitter video screenshot via @hpdrobbery

At that point, the first rider is seen exiting the vehicle — and Dovran told KRIV that the first rider "pulled the driver's door, and tried to pull me out, but I was holding tight."

Despite a gun being held to his head, Dovran battled back.

The station said a struggle ensued, and Dovran managed to drive off — except the gunman was still in the back seat.

"He was holding a gun to my head, he was screaming, 'Stop the car, or I'll shoot you,'" Dovran recounted to the station. "I didn't stop, and then lucky for me, he decided to jump out."

Here's video of what unfolded in the car. Content warning: Language:

\u201cDRAMATIC VIDEO!! We need your help to identify the suspects wanted in an armed robbery of a rideshare drive on Oct. 18 at 2929 Dunvale.\n\nIf you recognize them, please call @CrimeStopHOU w/info. @houstonpolice \n\nFull story at https://t.co/eJba6a6DG5\u201d
— Houston Police Robbery (@Houston Police Robbery) 1672763474

KRIV said Dovran sustained only a few scratches, and a station reporter asked him how he managed to fight back and refuse the carjacker's orders with a gun pressed against his head.

"I don't know, I didn't think about it," he told the station, adding that it still was "scary."

Image source: KRIV-TV video screenshot

Asked if he'd do anything differently with hindsight, Dovran told KRIV, "No."

Dovran still drives for Uber but told KRIV he's being more cautious about whom he picks up and where he does it.

Crime Stoppers is offering $5,000 for any tips leading to the suspects' arrests, the station said.

Image source: Twitter video screenshot via @hpdrobbery

Image source: Twitter video screenshot via @hpdrobbery

Anything else?

The station said Uber issued the following statement: "The actions of the riders shown in the video were chilling to watch, and we are grateful the driver wasn’t injured. We removed the rider’s [sic] access and have reached out to the driver to offer support. We look forward to assisting police in identifying those responsible."

KRIV noted that Uber recently rolled out a rider verification feature to add an extra layer of protection for drivers, saying that if a driver feels unsafe, the driver can end the ride immediately.

'Don't make me kill you — because I will': Military vet holds armed police chase suspect at gunpoint until cops arrive



A military veteran held an armed police chase suspect at gunpoint earlier this week in College Park, Georgia, until cops arrived and told the alleged perp, "Don't make me kill you — because I will," WAGA-TV reported.

What happened?

Security cameras at Feeding GA Families — a food bank — caught the moment Monday evening when a volunteer rushed into the break room and told manager William Joyner that someone had just crossed through the parking lot with a gun, the station said.

Image source: WAGA-TV video screenshot

Joyner is an Army veteran, and he knew exactly what to do, WAGA said.

The station said he grabbed his gun, chambered it, and went outside.

Image source: WAGA-TV video screenshot

It wasn't long before he caught up to individual in question.

"I told him to go to the ground, the police are on their way — 'just go to your knees with your hands up,'" Joyner recounted to WAGA.

Image source: WAGA-TV video screenshot

Joyner said the suspect — later identified by police as 20-year-old Jordan Shelley — refused to show him one of his hands, the station reported.

Image source: WAGA-TV video screenshot

"The whole time his hand was sliding down toward the gun," Joyner explained to WAGA. "I was telling him, 'Don’t make me kill you, because I will.'"

Fortunately a College Park police officer arrived on the scene before things escalated further, the station said.

What else do we know?

Police told WAGA that Shelley — as well as 21-year-old James Green — fled from police in a stolen car on Roosevelt Highway just before 5 p.m. Monday.

They wrecked the vehicle near Herschel Road, taking out a bus stop in the process, the station said.

Officers quickly got Green, WAGA said, but Shelley took off across train tracks on to West Point Avenue and then into Feeding GA Families’ parking lot.

Shelley and Green both face obstruction charges while Green also was charged with theft and criminal damage to property, the station said.