On Wednesday, January 19, 2022, at approximately 4:11 p.m., Habersham County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to the Apple Mountain Resort at 200 Apple Seed Court in Clarkesville, Georgia, about a reported hostage situation.
Before deputies arrived, two males reportedly fled the scene in a Kia Forte, according to the 911 caller. Deputies stopped that vehicle minutes later, within a mile of the initial scene. The occupants, later identified as Tyler Blanchard (26 years old of Blairsville, GA) and Charles Blanchard (70 years old of Blairsville, GA), were detained in connection with the reported hostage situation.
At the resort, deputies determined that the hostage situation was a domestic dispute involving Tyler Blanchard. The incident occurred inside a second-story resort room and involved three victims; an adult female and two children.
During the dispute, an intoxicated Tyler made repeated verbal threats to the adult female with her children present. The female retreated to a locked bedroom to protect herself and her children; however, Tyler continued to issue verbal threats and bang on the door. Tyler’s threats included his intent to strike the adult female with a gun he had in his possession.
Tyler’s father, Charles, was made aware of the argument and came to the resort to pick him up. Once outside with Tyler, both men were seen, by a witness, walking around the adult female victim’s vehicle. The witness told deputies that she saw one of the males slash the front tires on the vehicle before fleeing the scene.
HCSO Criminal Investigators interviewed the victim, Charles Blanchard, and the witness. Subsequently, both Tyler and Charles Blanchard were arrested. Tyler was charged with three (3) counts of Aggravated Assault, two (2) counts of Cruelty to Children, and one (1) count of Criminal Damage. Charles was charged with Obstruction of Justice. They were booked into the Habersham County Jail.