Official News &

“Sheriff’s Office Arrests Convenience Store Burglars”

On July 8^{th, 2008 invetigators from the Narcotics and Burglary Section (NAB) of the Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office arrested Taft Dwayne Gilreath (28) of Dahlonega and Jeremiah Austin Cochran (27) of Jasper for the burglary of the BP convenience store located in the building and property owned by John Ariemma at the intersection of Hwy 60 and Seven Mile Hill Rd.}

The incident occurred during the early morning hours of July 3rd when the suspect forcibly entered the store. The alarm activated and the suspects fled the scene with numerous lottery scratch off cards prior to deputies arriving. Investigators responded to the scene and collected evidence, including video surveillance footage.

 

Before the stolen cards could be de-activated by the Georgia Lottery Commission the suspects were able to cash in some of the winning cards at four different stores in Pickens County.

Investigators worked late hours and tracked the suspects to stores they frequented in Pickens County eventually locating one of the suspects and surveilling him to a residence which was also in Pickens County. Mr. Gilreath confessed and provided details of the crime which was consistent with evidence located by investigators. Mr. Cochran was also at the same Pickens County residence and during a search investigators from Pickens County located methamphetamine in his pocket. Mr. Gilreath told investigators that he and Mr. Cochran had used methamphetamine just prior to committing the burglary.

Mr. Gilreath is being held at the Lumpkin County Detention Center and Mr. Cochran is currently being held in Pickens County for possessing the methamphetamine. Mr. Cochran will later be transferred to Lumpkin County to face the charge of burglary.

Captain Jason Stover

Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office

Taft Dwayne Gilreath