Former Fannin resident allegedly identified as “zip tie guy” in Capitol riot
Featured News, Featured Stories, News January 11, 2021
WASHINGTON DC – FBI tracked down with the public’s help the alleged “zip tie guy” and identified him as Erik Munchel using context clues in the Capitol Hill photographs.
The zip tie guy was covered head to toe with few identifying markers, which led to close examinations of any photo with the individual.
Once identified, Nashville Police arrested Munchel over the weekend. In a statement the United States Attorney’s Office said:
“Eric Gavelek Munchel, of Tennessee, was charged with one count of knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority and one count of violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds. Munchel was arrested today in Tennessee.
It is alleged that Munchel was inside of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Photos depicting his presence show a person who appears to be Munchel carrying plastic restraints, an item in a holster on his right hip, and a cell phone mounted on his chest with the camera facing outward, ostensibly to record events that day.”
Munchel’s now-removed Facebook page listed him as a Fannin County High School graduate. He was living in Nashville, working as a bartender.
The ATF and FBI continue to urge the public to report suspected use of explosive devices, or violent, destructive acts associated with the recent unrest. Anyone with information can call 1-888-ATF-TIPS (1-888-283-8477), email [email protected] or submit information anonymously via ReportIt.com.
The FBI is looking for individuals who may have incited or promoted violence of any kind. Anyone with digital material or tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or submit images or videos at fbi.gov/USCapitol.
Feature image courtesy of Josh Breslow.
Ingram may have threatened more than courthouse
Featured, Featured Stories, News January 11, 2021ELLIJAY, Ga. – Earlier this week, a threat was reported and dealt with regarding the Gilmer County Courthouse on the night of January 5, 2021.
The reported threat allegedly came from Travis Webb Ingram, 44. Ingram was arrested by the Gilmer County Sheriff’s Office the same day. Facing a felony charge of Terroristic Threats and Actions according to the Sheriff’s Booking Report, Ingram allegedly made threats on social media about going to the courthouse with a bomb. The report indicates as much, stating the offense location as cyberspace.
Travis Webb Ingram
However, according to the Sheriff’s report, the courthouse may not have been the only threat issued or the only charge possibly brought against Ingram.
The report indicates possible drug involvement in the incident. Reports indicate a suspicion of use or involvement of methamphetamines. While the investigation continues, new charges could be brought up, but for now, the only noted charge remains Terroristic threats.
In addition to the threat of a bomb against the courthouse, there was alleged reports noted in the incident report that Ingram was “extremely angry” and posed threats “against law enforcement and his ex-girlfriend’s life.”
The Sheriff’s Office dispatched several units to locations in response to the threat including the courthouse and to Ingram’s address. After arrest, Ingram was taken to the Gilmer County Detention Center for processing.
All of these new details including the allegations of drug use with methamphetamines, threats against the additional female, and threats against police are coming from the Sheriff’s Office on incident report. Yet, no additional charges were noted on the arrest record. FYN will continue to add new updates to this story as Sheriff Stacy Nicholson releases additional details.
Gilmer Courthouse suffers bomb threat on election night
News January 6, 2021
ELLIJAY, Ga. – Gilmer County may not have had issues at the poll precincts, but the courthouse saw issue on election night as a bomb threat was called in on the facility.
According to the Gilmer County Sheriff’s Office, “An anonymous caller notified the Gilmer County Sheriff’s Office of Facebook posts made by a Travis Ingram regarding his anger against law enforcement about a prior arrest, as well as a specific threat that he had a bomb and was headed to the courthouse.”
Staff at the courthouse was put on high alert, and while the statement from the Sheriff’s Office did not directly connect with election night, other counties are receiving specific threats related to political ideals and the elections specifically.
Pickens County posted officers at precincts in a pre-emptive effort based on the threats in other counties as well.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, the staff inside the courthouse was put on alert, and election staff had to follow special response considering election ballots being on premises.
According to Chief Registrar Tammy Watkins, as they prepared ballots and discussed what to do as they are not normally allowed to leave ballots unattended, the threat was dealt with before they were forced to move or do anything with the ballots due to the threat.
The statement read, “Based on the severity of the threats and actions he stated he intended to carry out, the courthouse staff was put on a high alert status and deputies began looking for Ingram.”
The statement continues on saying that Ingram was found and arrested. Ingram is facing charges of Terroristic Threats & Acts and is currently being held in the Gilmer County Detention Center.
Despite the threat, proceedings continued at the courthouse throughout the night. Elections were still allowed to continue as planned with ballot counting during the night.
Gilmer Courthouse suffers bomb threat on election night
Featured, Featured Stories, News January 6, 2021
ELLIJAY, Ga. – Gilmer County may not have had issues at the poll precincts, but the courthouse saw issue on election night as a bomb threat was called in on the facility.
According to the Gilmer County Sheriff’s Office, “An anonymous caller notified the Gilmer County Sheriff’s Office of Facebook posts made by a Travis Ingram regarding his anger against law enforcement about a prior arrest, as well as a specific threat that he had a bomb and was headed to the courthouse.”
Staff at the courthouse was put on high alert, and while the statement from the Sheriff’s Office did not directly connect with election night, other counties are receiving specific threats related to political ideals and the elections specifically.
Pickens County posted officers at precincts in a pre-emptive effort based on the threats in other counties as well.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, the staff inside the courthouse was put on alert, and election staff had to follow special response considering election ballots being on premises.
According to Chief Registrar Tammy Watkins, as they prepared ballots and discussed what to do as they are not normally allowed to leave ballots unattended, the threat was dealt with before they were forced to move or do anything with the ballots due to the threat.
The statement read, “Based on the severity of the threats and actions he stated he intended to carry out, the courthouse staff was put on a high alert status and deputies began looking for Ingram.”
The statement continues on saying that Ingram was found and arrested. Ingram is facing charges of Terroristic Threats & Acts and is currently being held in the Gilmer County Detention Center.
Despite the threat, proceedings continued at the courthouse throughout the night. Elections were still allowed to continue as planned with ballot counting during the night.
Traffic stop yields heroin, syringes, methamphetamine
Business, Featured Stories, News November 2, 2020
LUMPKIN COUNTY, Ga. — What started as a routine traffic stop on Burnt Stand Road resulted in the confiscation of two syringes, a small quantity of heroin and a small bag of methamphetamine last week.
According to the incident report, Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Deputy Blake Sargent was traveling toward Hwy. 400 on Burnt Stand Road when an oncoming vehicle crossed into his lane then swerved back into its lane. The deputy made a u-turn then followed the vehicle into a neighborhood off Burnt Stand Rd.
The vehicle came to a stop near a cul-de-sac and the driver Benjamin Charles Jones, 39, exited the vehicle and began to walk toward Sargent’s patrol car. Lumpkin County dispatch advised the deputy the vehicle tag and Jones’ driver’s license were expired.
The vehicle was impounded and during a search, Sargent observed a syringe loaded with a brown liquid consistent with heroin, a backpack that contained a syringe and a clear plastic bag, with more of the brown liquid. As he was being taken into custody, a blue plastic bag with a substance that appeared to be methamphetamine fell off Jones person.
Jones was handcuffed and transported to Lumpkin County Detention Center.
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
Employee from February incident out on bond
News July 20, 2020
GILMER COUNTY, Ga. – February saw a threat and incident at the Gilmer Schools’ Transportation Depot as a single woman allegedly walked into the facility with a firearm. Now, nearly 150 days later, Mary Newberry has left the detention center on bond.
Allegedly the woman behind the incident, she faces felony charges of Aggravated Assault and Carrying a Weapon in School Safety Zone among others, according to information on the Sheriff’s website for the Detention Center. She also face misdemeanor charges of Simple Battery, Pointing or Aiming a gun at another, and Loitering at or Disrupting Schools.
Clear Creek Middle School in Gilmer County
Posting the bond late last week after it was set by Superior Court Judge John Worcester, she has been placed under 15 conditions according to documents filed with the Clerk of Superior Court.
Those conditions include the bond payment, house arrest, “no contact” orders with a 500-foot distance for witnesses and alleged victims, “no contact” orders including a 500-foot distance from properties of the Gilmer County Charter School System, restrictions on employment with any school system, ankle monitoring, restrictions from firearms, voluntary searches, and other restrictions against committing crimes in general.
In addition, the documents do reference a reasoning as for the bond coming now. The documents stated that both parties “have reached a consent agreement (due to the alleged present physical health conditions of the defendant at the request of the Gilmer County Jail) to the amount of bond and the conditions of bond for the Defendant…”
The alleged incident occurred on the afternoon of February 27, 2020, around 1:30 p.m. and caused the nearby Clear Creek Middle School to go into a “precautionary lock-down.”
As Schools Superintendent Dr. Shanna Downs reported at the time, there were no injuries from the incident.
Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Offices locates runaway juveniles
Community, News March 8, 2019
LUMPKIN CO., GA
According to the Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office, Deputy Michael Gravely met with two complainants at the LCSO, regarding two runaway juveniles on March 3.
Complainant one explained that his fourteen-year-old daughter had her fifteen-year-old-friend staying with her for a sleepover at his Dahlonega residence. Sometime between 8:00PM and 11:30PM, they left the residence, and the complainant was unaware of where they had gone, since the two juveniles did not have permission to leave. After the information was confirmed by complainant two, they both told police that they had spent the night/early morning looking for the missing teens.
Officials searched the known areas and people who might know the juveniles, in an attempt to locate them. A Missing/Lost Persons Report was filed for both teens, and a BOLO was sent out for the local area/surrounding counties. The juveniles were also put on the LCSO media page, with guardian permission.
Investigators learned from an informant, who was the boyfriend of the runaways, that both girls were at the birthday party around midnight and were in good spirits during the party. About 15 minutes after their arrival, both girls left, (presumingly on foot), but returned to the party after some time, in a gray, four-door, passenger vehicle, (possibly a Honda Civic), with a Georgia tag.
They were with two white males, whom he had never met. He noticed the males acting suspicious, by hiding every time a car drove by. The informant further explained that the two males had revealed that they were on probation and had warrants out for their arrests.
The white males also stated that the juveniles had told him that they had run away, and were scared of getting caught, due to the potentiality of juvenile court.
Further questioning led investigators to a Dawson County residence, where the missing juveniles were possibly hiding. Deputy Gravely reports seeing a gray, four-door, passenger sedan with a Georgia tag at the residence, but they could not locate any individuals at the residence.
On March 3, at exactly 8:00PM, Deputy Gravely received text messages from the original complainants, stating that they both believe they had new information on the teen’s whereabouts, and at 8:22PM on March 3, the LCSO posted on their Facebook page that the missing teens had been found, “Both teenage girls have been found safe. I would like to thank everyone for your assistance and prayers during the search. Thanks! Sheriff Stacy M. Jarrard”
FetchYourNews.com attracts more than 300,000 page views and 3.5 million impressions per month for ad server. FYNTV attracts approximately 15,000 viewers per week and has between 15,000 to 60,000 per week Facebook page reach. For the most effective, least expensive local advertising, call 706-276-6397 or visit [email protected]
Drug Task Force Officer Arrested
News July 27, 2018
Jasper, Ga. – The Pickens County Sheriff’s Office has arrested and released reports for warrants and booking for one Charles Daniel Hamrick.
According to the Arrest Warrant, Hamrick is accused of using his position as a peace officer to convince a person to send nude and semi-nude photos to him. The offense violates his oath as a public officer.
The warrant alleges that Hamrick convinced a lady that she was a confidential informant for him and that she could have potential criminal charges brought against her. He then allegedly told her that he had destroyed her confidential informant file in return for the photos.
Having been arrested and booked on the charges, Hamrick has since paid a $1,000 bond and been released. As the official charge states Violation of Oath by Public Officer, it is charged as “a violation of the Oath taken by Hamrick as a Deputy with the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office and the Deputy Commander of the Zell Miller Mountain Parkway Drug Task Force…”
Drug Task Force Officer Arrested
News July 27, 2018
Jasper, Ga. – The Pickens County Sheriff’s Office has arrested and released reports for warrants and booking for one Charles Daniel Hamrick.
According to the Arrest Warrant, Hamrick is accused of using his position as a peace officer to convince a person to send nude and semi-nude photos to him. The offense violates his oath as a public officer.
The warrant alleges that Hamrick convinced a lady that she was a confidential informant for him and that she could have potential criminal charges brought against her. He then allegedly told her that he had destroyed her confidential informant file in return for the photos.
Having been arrested and booked on the charges, Hamrick has since paid a $1,000 bond and been released. As the official charge states Violation of Oath by Public Officer, it is charged as “a violation of the Oath taken by Hamrick as a Deputy with the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office and the Deputy Commander of the Zell Miller Mountain Parkway Drug Task Force…”
GBI Investigates Gilmer County In-Custody Death of Charles Michael Patrick
Featured, News April 28, 2018
Ellijay, GA – On Friday, April 27, 2018, at approximately 10:15 p.m., the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) was requested by the Gilmer County Sheriff’s Office to investigate an in-custody death.
At approximately 10:00 p.m., Charles Michael Patrick, age 72, was found hanging in an isolation cell of the Gilmer County Detention Center. Patrick was pronounced dead at the scene. Patrick was arrested Thursday, April 26, 2018 for the murder of Drusilla Patrick (see below).
An autopsy is scheduled for Monday at the GBI Medical Examiner’s Office in Decatur.
Union County’s Most Wanted still at large from large methamphetamine drug bust
Featured, News July 15, 2017
Blairsville, GA – On Thursday, June 22nd , 2017, 34 people were arrested and warrants were issued for 4 others. One of those ‘others’ has since been apprehended and arrested; but the three remaining are currently Union County’s Most Wanted because, according to UCSO Captain Chad Deyton and UCSO Sgt. Tyler Miller, they are the ringleaders.
Union County’s Most Wanted still at large from largest methamphetamine drug bust in Union County history. Still at large as of this writing are Michael Edward Parker, James Keith Cordle and Bridgette Maria Banks.
If anyone should see or might know the whereabouts of any of these persons, please contact the Union County Sheriff’s Office at (706) 439-6066 immediately.
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
Morning Monologue 6/28/16
GMFTO June 28, 2016
Legal Fallout for Miller, and an update on the Fannin Cartel.