The employees of the Dawson News & Advertiser found themselves involved in a news story of their own the morning of July 25.

Windows at Creative Vision Salon, the Dawson News & Advertiser and Hayleys in downtown Dawsonville were broken in at about 3 a.m. that Wednesday. There was blood to be found in and around the window at Hayleys, leaving a trail through the nearby Kangaroo gas station parking lot.

The Dawson County Sheriffs Office apprehended a 16-year-old juvenile suspected in connection with the crime. He was taken to Northeast Georgia Medical Center for treatment of injuries.

The juvenile also is a suspect in beating up mailboxes in the area of Jenkins Road, off Hwy. 9 South, immediately before the glass-breaking incidents.

He is charged with six counts of injuring/destroying mailboxes, three counts of obstruction, two counts of interference with government property, public drunkenness, underage consumption of alcohol, two counts of criminal trespass and damage to property in the second degree.

Im just glad that he wasnt hurt worse than he was, said Hayley Garrett, owner of Hayleys. And maybe he did learn from this before he could really get hurt.

News & Advertiser Publisher Kimberly Boim expressed a similar sentiment.

We feel very thankful that it wasnt worse, and that the Dawson County police arrested a suspect before we had even arrived at work that morning, Boim said. Its comforting to know that while were sleeping, our officers are out there doing their jobs, protecting our community and our property.