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1 of 2 ‘armed, dangerous’ suspects accused of shooting Georgia deputy caught

By WSBTV.com News Staff
By WSBTV.com News Staff

WHITFIELD COUNTY, Ga. — Authorities have caught one of two Texas fugitive wanted in the shooting of Georgia deputy on Labor Day.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation says Jonathan Hosmer, 47, is now in custody, but Dalton Potter, 29, remains on the run.

Channel 2′s Audrey Washington has been following the manhunt for Potter and was on the scene when deputies received a tip.

Washington watched as patrol cars sped by before she and her cameraman got back inside their news truck to follow the deputies to Cline Road.

Deputies took out their guns and approached a home and nearby trailer. They created a line and slowly walked toward the wooded area behind the home, but had no luck.

Still deputies believe both the search effort and conditions will lead them to Potter.

“We’re following every lead that we have right now. A very heavy concentrated patrol with marked and unmarked units," Sheriff Scott Chitwood said.

“If you’re going without food and water, in this heat and you’re on the run, I would think that you’re wearing down a bit.”

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The GBI also released Tuesday new body camera footage of the moments leading up to the shooting.

Potter and Hosmer were found driving a stolen trailer in Dalton, Georgia early Monday morning.

When Whitfield County Darrell Hackney tried to conduct a traffic stop, Potter can be seen in the video immediately grabbing a gun and firing shots at the deputy from inside his vehicle.

Hackney was hit by gunfire, but the GBI says his ballistic vest prevented serious injury.

Hackney and another Whitfield County deputy, Adrian Gomez, returned fire, but Potter and Hosmer escaped driving south on Interstate 75.

The GBI says Potter later wrecked the truck, and the stolen trailer on I-75 S near the Whitfield/Gordon County line. Potter and Hosmer escaped into the woods. Authorities are still searching for Potter.

A home surveillance system in a subdivision near the truck wreck caught video of Hosmer leaving the wreck scene.

Potter is considered armed and dangerous and a “Blue Alert” has been issued for the man’s capture.

Cox Media Group

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