Crime & Safety

Comer Man Charged with Stealing Truck, Fleeing from Deputies

The Oconee County Sheriff's Office reports Michael J. Martin, 20, was taken into custody Tuesday evening after crashing the vehicle into a tree across from Oconee County Middle School.

Within minutes of receiving a report Tuesday that a Toyota Tundra had been stolen from a Crooked Creek Road residence, Oconee County Sheriff's deputies had handcuffs on a 20-year-old Comer man.

The call came in just after 5 p.m. with information from the victim that the truck was headed toward Mars Hill Road, according to a news release. Deputies spotted it as it approached Butler’s Crossing.

The driver tried to elude deputies by pulling into the parking lot across from Oconee County Middle School and crashing into a tree, the Sheriff's Office reported.  The man then ran into the brush where he was apprehended.

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Michael J. Martin faces multiple charges including theft of a motor vehicle, fleeing and attempting to elude, reckless driving, leaving the scene of an accident, criminal danage to property, obstruction, driving while license suspended, and DUI drugs, according to booking reports.

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