STAFF REPORT :::
A two-hour standoff Friday afternoon ended with the arrest of 23-year-old Reginald Collier, who was wanted in connection with a March 27 robbery of the Dollar General store located at 21 Bicycle Road.
According to a press release issued by Sheriff Darrell Dix, personnel of the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office’s Criminal Investigations Division, Special Operations Unit, CAGE Unit and Fugitive Apprehension Unit at approximately 4 p.m. took Collier into custody.
“Investigators were quickly able to identify Collier as a suspect and have been working to locate him. at approximately 2:00 today Investigators went to 829 North Hill Street apartment 205 where they learned he had been residing,” Dix said. “As they entered the apartment Collier, who was in another room retreated to a closet. While in the closet he accessed the attic of the apartment and refused to come out.”
Dix said this led to the decision to call out additional resources, including the agency’s SWAT Team.
“Due to his actions we responded our SWAT Team and one of our K-9’s. We set up a perimeter around the building an (sic) obtained a search warrant for the residence,” Dix said. “When the team made entry, they called to him and he did not respond. He did not respond when he was told the K-9 would be placed in the attic and he would be bitten. At that point we decided to announce the intention of deploying OC spray into the attic. OC was deployed in the attic, and Collier decided to call out to us that he was surrendering. He came to the Swat Team as commanded and was taken in to custody without further incident ending the 2-hour stand-off. He was immediately transported to Spalding County Criminal Investigations where he is being questioned.”
Dix said Collier may be a suspect in additional local crimes.
“There is a strong possibility that he is one of the suspects the Griffin Police Department is seeking for additional charges relating to robberies that have occurred inside the city limits. They have been contacted and responded investigators to the scene,” he said.
As of Friday evening, Collier has been charged with one count of robbery and obstruction of officers, with other charges pending.
Also arrested was 18-year-old Caleb Barkley, who has been charged with obstruction of a law enforcement officer and hindering the apprehension of a fugitive.
Both men are being held in the Spalding County Jail.