Fugitive wanted in deputy shooting captured in Gordon County after shootout with civilian

GORDON COUNTY, Ga. — The fugitive from Texas wanted for allegedly shooting a Georgia deputy has been captured in Gordon County.

Dalton Potter, 29, has been on the run since Monday morning. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said he shot a Whiftfield County deputy during a traffic stop.

A Channel 2 Action News viewer shared a photo of an emergency alert sent to his phone on Wednesday night, alerting people that deputies were searching northern Gordon County for Potter.

[TIMELINE: How more than 100 officers tracked down the suspect during the 72-hour manhunt]

Whitfield County Sheriff Scott Chitwood said Potter got into a shootout with a homeowner. The man was shot three times but sustained non life-threatening injuries. Potter was also grazed in the confrontation and ran into the woods.

“That was a confirmed sighting of our suspect,” Chitwood said. “He came north, went down a driveway, and made contact with a second neighbor in the area. They had a little exchange. The suspect then went to the woods."

Shortly before 11 p.m. Wednesday, the GBI tweeted that Potter had been captured. Chitwood said Potter was not armed when he was captured. He was treated at the hospital for a head wound and is now being held at the Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office.

Chitwood said in a news conference Thursday that the deputy Potter shot is expected to return to work next week.

Earlier Wednesday, the GBI announced it found explosives in a stolen trailer connected to fugitives accused in the shooting of a deputy.

According to the GBI, officials executed a search warrant on the trailer Potter was hauling at the time of the shooting.

Officials found explosives in the trailer and the GBI says they will be destroyed by its bomb disposal unit.

Another man, 47-year-old Jonathan Hosmer, was also in the truck at the time of the shooting, according to officials. Hosmer has already been taken into custody.

Both men have active warrants out of Texas, according to the GBI.

“Dalton Potter is wanted in Leakey, Real County, TX for larceny & theft of over $2500. Potter is wanted in Georgia for five counts of aggravated assault,” it said in a tweet.

“Hosmer has been charged in GA w/ possession of methamphetamine, bringing stolen property into the state, poss of a firearm by a convicted felon, and poss of a firearm during the commission of a felony. Jonathan Hosmer is wanted in Leakey, TX for larceny & theft of over $2500.”

Cox Media Group