From staff reports

Lamar County Sheriff Larry Waller reported Friday that deputies arrested 27-year-old James Ryan Blake, of 1208 Davis Lake Road, Locust Grove, following a burglary.

As Blake fled from the crime scene, deputy Eddie Hendrix, seeing a vehicle matching the description provided by a witness, turned around to execute a felony stop. Hendrix lost sight of the vehicle and when he again saw the vehicle, officials say Blake had wrecked on Liberty Hill Road.

Cpl. Bunn and Sgt. Webster, who were also dispatched on the call, remained en route to the scene of the reported burglary in progress.

Upon arrival, they cleared the living area of the house and the attic. Authorities say evidence was found at the scene of the alleged burglary and the scene was turned over to Investigator Buddy McBride for processing.

When he was apprehended, Blake had no stolen property with him, but he was identified as the individual who had allegedly broken into the home before.

According to the LCSO, the legal definition for burglary in Georgia says “one is guilty of the offense of burglary when he unlawfully enters or remains in a dwelling or other structure with the intent to commit a theft or felony therein.”

Blake was charged with two counts of burglary, DUI drugs and failure to yield at a yield sign.

LCSO officials expressed their appreciation to the witness for being alert and for getting a good description of the alleged offender, which aided in his apprehension.

Waller stressed that burglaries can be made more difficult if every property owner locks his or her possessions and remains alert for anything out of the ordinary. Residents are urged to report any unusual activity, such as the sighting of strange vehicles or suspicious activity at their neighbors’ homes.