At 2:25 a.m. Sunday, a Habersham County Sheriff’s Office corporal conducted a traffic stop on a gray Chrysler Town & Country van on Highway 365 northbound near Iron Ore Road outside Demorest.
When the corporal exited his vehicle, he approached the driver’s side of the van and could hear yelling coming from the vehicle as if someone was in distress.
Upon speaking to driver William Ray Barnhardt, 45, of Gainesville, the corporal advised him he was being stopped because of an improper lane change and erratic driving.
When asked for his license, Barnhardt began reaching about inside the vehicle while claiming to try to secure his dog. He was ordered to exit the van but abruptly placed the vehicle in drive and sped away.
The corporal, sergeant and a deputy attempted to box the vehicle on the shoulder closest to the right southbound lane but were unsuccessful due to Barnhardt using his vehicle to drive into the front of the sergeant’s 2022 Dodge Durango patrol vehicle, resulting in minor damage to it.
Barnhardt then began driving northbound in the southbound lanes of Highway 365 in the direction of potential oncoming traffic. Deputies continued the pursuit northbound between Iron Ore Road and Demorest-Mt. Airy Highway.
The deputy then angled his 2021 Dodge Charger patrol car and was able to successfully use a Precision Immobilization Technique (PIT) to stop Barnhardt’s vehicle, which halted movement in center cable barrier.
Deputies exited their vehicles and attempted to place Barnhardt in handcuffs, but he began to thrash about on the ground physically resisting. He began reaching into the waistband of his shorts, appearing to deputies that he was grabbing for an unknown object or potentially a weapon. Deputies continued to struggle with Barnhardt, finally subduing him and getting him handcuffed. A Habersham County Animal Care and Control officer took custody of Barnhardt’s dog.
After reviewing video of the pursuit, it was observed by the corporal’s in-car camera that Barnhardt had thrown narcotics paraphernalia across the median upon exiting the van. About 7 a.m. Sunday, another sheriff’s office corporal retrieved methamphetamine, fentanyl, THC wax and marijuana from the pursuit scene.
Barnhardt returned with an outstanding warrant out of Ohio, with warnings about his violent tendencies, being armed with dangerous weapons, extensive narcotics offenses and armed robberies.
– Habersham County