TOWNS COUNTY, Ga. — A Towns County deputy is being recognized for helping end a multi-county manhunt that began with a kidnapping in Rabun County.
On September 30, Deputy Brandon Patterson responded to a lookout alert around 9:50 a.m. for a silver Ford Transit van linked to an incident in Rabun County. Less than an hour later, at 10:39 a.m., Patterson spotted the vehicle traveling north on Highway 17 near the Cornerstone Market in Young Harris.
He quickly initiated a traffic stop at Woods Grove Baptist Church—less than a mile from where he spotted the van—and safely apprehended the suspect without incident.
Towns County Sheriff Ken Henderson and Capt. Billy Brackett commended Deputy Patterson for his swift actions and sound judgment.
“Deputy Patterson’s alertness, proactive approach, and professionalism were instrumental in the swift removal of a violent offender from Towns County,” the sheriff’s office said. “His actions reflect the highest standards of law enforcement and deserve formal recognition.”
Arrest linked to Rabun County kidnapping
The arrest stemmed from a frightening encounter in Rabun County earlier that day. Investigators say Austin Fleming, of Murphy, North Carolina, hid inside a victim’s vehicle, threatened them, and forced them to drive him back to his car.
After the victim managed to flag down a patrol car, deputies issued the lookout that led to Patterson’s traffic stop and arrest.
Fleming faces multiple felony charges, including kidnapping, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.
“Thanks to swift coordination between the Rabun County Sheriff’s Office and the Towns County Sheriff’s Office, Fleming was quickly located and taken into custody without further incident,” Rabun County Sheriff Mark Gerrells said.
