Hart County Man Charged in Tri-County Car Thefts

1915536_1456723327767238_7897816259613549453_n-250x169 1924180_1456723911100513_4184167908614227061_n-250x188A Hart County man is in custody, charged with the theft of two cars from Tri-County Chevrolet last month.

According to the Hart County Sheriff’s office, Michael Thomas Evans, 38 was arrested last week after a tip led sheriff’s deputies to a deer camp on Cokesbury Highway where Evans and two other suspects were thought to be.

Hart County Sheriff Mike Cleveland told the Hartwell Sun newspaper he and his deputies set up a look out at the deer camp.

Cleveland said about midnight on Thursday, February 4th, Evans and the other suspects arrived at the deer camp at which time Cleveland and the deputies rushed in and arrested him.

The two other suspects with Evans, who have not been identified, got away.

Authorities used helicopters and search dogs but did not find them.

Royston Police say Evans and possibly other accomplices stole a 1956 black Chevy Bel-Air and a 2015 orange Dodge Challenger from Tri-County Chevrolet in Royston sometime over New Year’s weekend.

Three weeks later, Royston Police Chief Donnie Boleman said he and Sheriff Cleveland, along with several deputies uncovered the stolen cars in the southern part of the County near the Elbert County line.

Boleman said at the time, the Bel-air was in the process of being dismantled for parts, and the Challenger was being repainted.

In Hart County, Evans faces a laundry list of charges including burglary, operating a chop shop, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and obstruction of an officer.

Evans will also face charges in Franklin County, according to Boleman.

“We have warrants on Michael Evans,” Boleman said. “He will come to Franklin County after he satisfies the Hart County charges. At this point, he is the only one being charged with the car thefts, but we do have other suspects we are looking at.”

Boleman says his office is waiting for evidence test results to come back from the GBI Crime Lab after which he expects more charges will be filed against Evans in Franklin County.

Evans is currently being held in the Hart County jail with a hold on him for Franklin County and Madison County on a probation violation.

Boleman says the investigation into the two other suspects continues in Franklin County.