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Authorities apprehend suspect after six-month search
web 0427 Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Darnell Jefferson

Long County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Tom Sollosi reported that Thomas Darnell Jefferson, who had been on the run for several months, was apprehended April 21.
Authorities had been looking for Jefferson since November, when a woman claimed he broke into her home, attacked her and threatened her with a knife.
An anonymous caller provided the sheriff’s office with a tip that Jefferson had been seen at Country Manor Mobile Home Park on several occasions. 
LCSO Lt. Craig Nobles, Deputy Andy Young and two other deputies went to a residence April 21 at Country Manor, where Jefferson was believed to be staying; but they did not find him.
As the officers were leaving, they saw a black automobile make a U-turn a short distance from Griffin Road. The officers followed the vehicle, which led them back to Country Manor.
At this point, the officers turned on their emergency lights, and a man jumped out of the car and began to flee. Young chased the man and Tased him once he was close enough. The man fell to the ground and was taken into custody. He later was identified as Jefferson.
Sollosi said Jefferson was charged with armed robbery, aggravated assault and obstruction of an officer attempting to perform his duty.
Nobles, who led the group that apprehended the suspect, said, “Jefferson has been on the loose for a while, and he was considered armed and dangerous. It is good to finally get him off the street and in custody. We are going to continue staying on top of these dangerous criminals and cracking down on the crime in Long County.”
In other news:
• The Ludowici Police Department arrested Ludowici resident Christopher Hearn, 31, on April 16 for aggravated stalking. Hearn was denied bond due to being out on bond for drug charges through the LCSO.
• The LCSO charged Liberty County resident Michael Edward Tessanne, 31, on April 21 with six counts of criminal damage to property in the second degree and one count of burglary for his alleged involvement in the theft of copper. The Liberty County Sheriff’s Office arrested Tessanne on April 19 for copper-related theft charges and then contacted Sollosi regarding the thefts in Long County.

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