PRESS RELEASE – Sheriff Jamie Callaway reported that on Thursday, March 28,  Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to Jones Ferry Road to a vehicle accident involving two vehicles.

It was reported that one driver got out of his vehicle and shot the driver of the other vehicle.

Deputies arrived on Jones Ferry Road and located a small car in the ditch with significant damage and the driver had fled the scene.

A passerby reported to personnel on scene that a black SUV with heavy damage was driving down Jones Ferry Road with one wheel turned sideways.

While deputies searched for the driver of the first car, other Sheriff’s Office personnel followed roadway evidence farther down Jones Ferry Road and located the second vehicle obscured in a clearcut, but that driver had fled the scene as well.

This vehicle also had significant damage.

K-9 units from Hart County Sheriff’s Office and Wilkes County Sheriff’s Office, along with a drone operator arrived on scene to help search for both drivers.

Elbert County EMA Drone teams were also dispatched to assist with the search as well as a helicopter with the Georgia State Patrol.

While the search was being conducted, information was received from Madison County Sheriff’s Office personnel that this incident may be related to a deceased female from their county.

They stated that her son, Joshua Sewell, may possibly be headed to Elbert County to harm a female there. Wilkes County K-9 located the driver of the black SUV hiding in a wooded area in a ditch, along with her 1 year old child.

It was then determined that as the victim was driving down Jones Ferry Road, Mr. Sewell had struck her vehicle with his car and ran her vehicle off the roadway.

He then approached the driver’s side window with a shotgun and busted the window out while threatening to harm her.

The victim escaped her vehicle along with her child and hid, before returning to her vehicle after Mr. Sewell fled the scene.

It was also learned that even though a gun was used to bust the window and was pointed at the victim, it was never fired.

Dispatch began to receive calls about a white male with no shirt approaching homes on Grady Cleveland Rd. asking for help.

Camera footage from one of the homes confirmed this to be Joshua Sewell.

A Sheriff’s k-9 unit from Hart County began tracking Mr. Sewell and calls continued to come in to dispatch as he attempted to flee the area.

The pursuit continued across Hwy. 72 onto Sweet City Road, onto Chris Franklin Drive, and then down Sweet City Road to the creek.

Mr. Sewell then traveled down the creek back to Hwy. 72 and crossed over the highway where he was taken into custody without incident with the assistance of a homeowner who was talking with him.

Joshua Sewell is being charged with Aggravated Assault x2, Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime x2, Misd. Pointing or Aiming a Gun at Another, Misd. Reckless Conduct, Misd. Obstruction, Misd. Criminal Tresspass, and Misd. Hit and Run.

This is still an active investigation and further charges are possible.