Lyft driver taken hostage in lobby of Dawson County Sheriff's Office, officials say
The Dawson County Sheriff's Office said a hostage situation happened far closer to home than normal.
In the early morning hours on Thursday, Dawson County Sheriff Jeff Johnson defused a hostage situation in the Law Enforcement Center's front lobby.
According to the sheriff's office, David Christopher Morris, of Dawsonville, was holding a knife to a man said to be his Lyft driver.
[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]
Morris told the sheriff's office he'd been picked up in Hall County, and while on his way to an address in Dawson County, threatened the driver and had him drive him straight to the sheriff's office.
When the driver and Morris got to the office, Morris held him at knifepoint and walked into the building, demanding to speak to Johnson.
TRENDING STORIES:
Atlanta rent prices down 1% compared to 2024, but rose month-to-month
Acworth police save life of man choking on water bottle cap using LifeVac device
Man accused of depositing check meant for GA county commissioners into personal account
While waiting for Johnson to arrive, SWAT deputies established a secure perimeter, according to officials. After speaking for a while, Morris released the hostage and surrendered the weapon without further incident.
The Lyft driver sustained minor injuries and was treated by Dawson County Fire and Emergency Services, the sheriff's office said. Morris was taken into custody and is in custody at the Dawson County Detention Center.
'We're grateful this situation ended without further harm to the victim, our deputies, or the suspect. It is an honor to work for a strong leader who leads calmly by example, even in the face of danger‚" Dawson County Sheriff's Public Information Officer Sgt. Matthew Blackstock said in a statement.
Morris' charges were not made public yet. The sheriff's office said more details would be released when they are available.
[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
100 grams of fentanyl seized, two arrested in Chautauqua Co. raid
(WJET/WFXP)– Two Chautauqua County residents are facing a fresh set of criminal charges after police said they found more than 100 grams of fentanyl during a raid at their home Friday morning. That raid happened around 6:26 a.m. in the 500 block of West 6th Street in Jamestown, New York, at the home of 41-year-old Jermeek Johnson and 30-year-old Danielle Barber, both of Jamestown. Ashtabula Co. man arrested for aggravated murder After members of the SWAT team, Chautauqua County Sheriff's Office and the United States Marshall's Service started their search, they allegedly found 101.1 grams of fentanyl, 2.9 grams of methamphetamine, Alprazolam pills, digital scales, $1,633 in cash and other cutting agents. Police said Johnson also tried to hide an unspecified amount of fentanyl and meth while police were searching but was eventually found and both were taken into custody. Johnson already had a warrant out of Chautauqua County Court for possessing a large quantity of fentanyl and a loaded handgun after a search warrant was executed at his home in March 2024, while Barber had an outstanding bench warrant from Jamestown City Court. NY man arrested after police allegedly find over 150 grams of cocaine in his apartment He's since been arraigned and pleaded not guilty to charges of first, third and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, tampering with evidence, and two counts of criminally using drug paraphernalia. Barber also appeared in Jamestown City Court for the bench warrants with bail set at $500 cash and $1,000 insured. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
Driver on Dale Mabry Highway claimed to have bomb in car, used drugs in front of officers: TPD
The Brief Tampa police say Jeremy Johnson fell asleep Thursday evening at the intersection of N. Dale Mabry Hwy. and Columbus Dr. Investigators say he claimed to have a bomb in the car, refused to get out and used drugs in front of officers. Police eventually arrested Johnson and found no bomb in the vehicle. TAMPA, Fla. - Tampa police say the driver behind an explosives threat that shut down a stretch of Dale Mabry Highway on Thursday evening had fallen asleep behind the wheel and was woken up by officers before he claimed to have a bomb in his car. The backstory The Tampa Police Department says officers responded to the intersection of N. Dale Mabry Hwy. and Columbus Dr. shortly after 6:30 p.m. after getting reports of a sleeping driver impeding the flow of traffic. Police say they found Jeremy Johnson, 30, asleep inside the car, which was still running with the gear in reverse. After officers woke him up, he refused to identify himself or get out of the car, according to TPD. Investigators also say they saw drug paraphernalia "in plain view," which Johnson picked up and smoked out of while still in the car. As officers tried to get Johnson out of the car and into custody, police say he claimed to have a bomb, causing investigators to shut down the southbound lanes of Dale Mabry between Tampa Bay Blvd. and Columbus Dr. TPD says no bomb was found in the car, and Johnson was arrested about 25 minutes after officers first approached him. What's next Johnson faces the following charges: Possession of cocaine Driving while license revoked (habitual offender) Resisting an officer without violence Possession of drug paraphernalia Possession of drug without prescription Driving under the influence Hillsborough County Jail records show Johnson is being held on a warrant out of Pinellas County for violating probation in a felony battery case. Follow FOX 13 on YouTube The Source This story was written with information from the Tampa Police Department and Hillsborough County Jail records. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app: Apple | Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter
American Military News
9 hours ago
- American Military News
Soldier killed pregnant wife with machete, dismembered her in HI, officials say
A soldier stationed in Hawaii admitted to killing and dismembering his pregnant wife in July 2024, Army officials said. Pfc. Dewayne Arthur Johnson II pleaded guilty during a court-martial in Hawaii to voluntary manslaughter and other charges in connection with the deaths of his wife, Mischa Johnson, and unborn child, according to a June 5 news release from the Army. Pfc. Johnson was ordered by a military judge to serve 23 years behind bars, which is the maximum, officials said. The 29-year-old also is to be reduced in rank and dishonorably discharged, according to officials. Mischa Johnson was six months pregnant when she was reported missing last summer from Oahu's Schofield Barracks, McClatchy News previously reported. In February, the Army Office of Special Trial Counsel referred several charges and specifications against Pfc. Johnson, according to a news release at the time. That meant he was headed toward a military trial. Under his plea agreement, the cavalry scout 'admitted to killing his wife and unborn child in the heat of passion by striking (his wife) in the head with a machete,' officials said. The couple had been fighting, 'and then things escalated to violence,' according to officials. Pfc. Johnson 'also provided specific details of his actions following their deaths, to include dismembering the bodies with a chainsaw and then using his car to transport the remains to a dumpster on Schofield Barracks,' according to officials. The remains 'have never been found and are presumed to have been transported to the island's trash incinerator,' officials said. Pfc. Johnson reported his wife missing about two weeks after he killed her, officials said, 'and (he) even participated with community search parties that spanned the island to look for her.' He was linked to the killing through DNA, blood and other evidence in their home, according to officials. Pfc. Johnson apologized during court proceedings, saying, 'My wife didn't deserve that. She wasn't trash,' Hawaii News Now reported. He also said that, 'I failed as a husband. I failed as a father and I failed as a man. … I'll forever be sorry,' per the outlet. Pfc. Johnson will serve his prison time at the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth in Kansas, officials said. ___ © 2025 The Olympian Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
