Three-day manhunt leads to arrests

By Malynda Fulton

June 15, 2009 11:13 pm

— NASHVILLE — A three-day manhunt throughout Berrien and Lanier counties ended with the arrests of two men in Long County for burglary charges last Friday.
Around 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 9, Berrien County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Butch Adams observed a white Lexus going into Lanier County. The vehicle matched the description of one the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office had been looking for over the course of several days in reference to a burglary in Ray City, according to a press release from the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office. The driver of the vehicle was wanted in connection with the burglary, the release stated.
Adams contacted Berrien County 911 and Lanier County Sheriff’s Office deputies. Lanier County deputies made contact with the vehicle and a chase began through Lanier County. The driver of the Lexus led deputies on a high-speed chase through part of Lanier County at speeds well over 100 miles per hour, the release stated.
The driver then led deputies back into Berrien County on Highway 37 and was forced to pull over around the boat landing at Ray’s Mill Pond outside of Ray City. The driver then exited the vehicle and fled on foot to a wooded area around the mill pond.
Berrien County Sheriff’s Office deputies, Lanier County Sheriff’s Office deputies, Georgia Bureau of Investigation agents, Ray City Police Department officers and the Department of Corrections K-9 tracking team hunted for the driver for about five hours. The tracking team was lead by Department of Corrections Sgt. Trey Bass and his dog, Bailey.
Despite efforts to track the driver down through the wooded area around the mill pond, he was able to slip through the perimeter and get away.
Authorities continued to search for the driver the next few days and followed up on all leads that came in to the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office.
Berrien County investigators and GBI agents received information about the suspect’s possible whereabouts Friday. A check of that information led investigators to a residence in Long County (Ludowici).
Berrien County investigator Mike Register and a GBI agent went to Long County to meet with local authorities there. They executed a search warrant on the residence around 7 p.m. Friday and were able to arrest Gary Manning and another suspect for their alleged involvement in the Berrien County burglary. The suspects were transported back to Berrien County.
Manning is charged with burglary and other charges are pending, the release stated. Douglas Giddens is charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and hindering the apprehension/punishment of a criminal, the release stated. Both suspects are in the Berrien County Jail awaiting a bond hearing.

Copyright © 1999-2008 cnhi, inc.