Booking photo courtesy of the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office
STAFF REPORT :::
Michael Shane Pierce has again been arrested by the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office, with the latest case involving numerous charges resulting from a theft investigation.
A press release issued by Sheriff Darrell Dix describes Pierce as “well known to law enforcement in the area,” and describes his Jan. 9 arrest culminating from an investigation conducted by the Special Operations, C.A.G.E. and Criminal Investigations divisions that began following the theft of a skid-steer.
Authorities say Pierce, age 28, was most recently the target of an investigation in December 2019.
In the December case, multiple suspects were arrested at his 520 Mangham Road residence, where investigators recovered “stolen vehicles and quantities of methamphetamine.”
Pierce was arrested following a traffic stop on his vehicle in the area of Georgia Highway 92 and Sidney Drive. At the time of his arrest, he already had an outstanding felony warrant, Dix said.
“The Deputies that stopped Pierce knew he was wanted and once stopped, ordered him to exit the vehicle. Instead of doing what he was ordered to do, Pierce reached towards the center console. Based on Pierce’s actions, and their prior knowledge of him, Deputies grabbed him and were forced to try to remove him from the vehicle. Pierce began to fight with the Deputies as they removed him, and he continued reaching toward the center console. He lost and was taken into custody. A search of the vehicle revealed that a loaded handgun was in between the driver’s seat and the center console where he was reaching,” Dix said. “We believe that the Deputies were able to prevent Pierce from obtaining the firearm he was reaching for and prevented the incident from escalating. In the end, none of the Deputies were injured and Pierce received only minor injuries resulting from the fight that he started. A search of his vehicle also yielded quantities of methamphetamine, cocaine, marijuana and the handgun that was later learned to have been reported stolen to the City of Griffin Police Department.”
Pierce has been charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, theft by receiving a stolen firearm, theft by receiving stolen property, felony obstruction of a law enforcement officer, misdemeanor obstruction of a law enforcement officer, possession of cocaine, possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana possession of drug related objects, tag light violation and failure to obey a traffic control device.
“I am proud of the Deputies that worked on this case and their actions. Their teamwork and dedication to the job help make this County safer. We have been sending a strong message, backed up with actions since 2017, and you can expect more of the same especially if you decide to violate the law. The people of this County are tired, and together we are making positive changes in this community. The Sheriff’s Office is a part of that change and we will continue to work hand in hand with the community to resolve these issues. Once again, don’t become a statistic. You can stop, or together, we will stop you,” Dix said.
