A man suspected in a string of church burglaries in Lumpkin and Dawson counties was arrested early Saturday morning.

Skyler Michaelson, 20, of Lumpkin County was arrested around 1 a.m. Saturday following a car chase involving Georgia State Patrol and the sheriffs departments of Dawson and Lumpkin counties. The chase occurred on Highway 136 and later on Harmony Church Road, where the car wrecked.

Dawson County Public Information Officer Tony Wooten said Michaelson then fled on foot into the woods.

After Michaelson fled into the woods, Lumpkin County Sheriff Stacy Jarrard talked Michaelson into surrendering, Wooten said.

Lumpkin County Sheriffs Office received information that led us to looking for him last night, Wooten said Saturday.

Wooten said a church member of one of the Lumpkin churches that was burglarized saw on the website, Craigslist.com, items he believed were stolen from the church. The church member made arrangements to meet Michaelson at 7 p.m. Friday to purchase the equipment at the Kroger parking lot in Dawson County.

Michaelson did not go through with the sale and fled the parking lot. By tracking Michaelsons cell phone, the sheriffs office was able to track Michaelson through Lumpkin, Dawson and Hall counties. When it appeared he was entering back into Dawson County, a road block was set up by Georgia State Patrol and the pursuit began.

Michaelson is being held at the Dawson County Detention Center on traffic charges stemming from the chase and accident. Wooten said more charges are expected to come later in the week.