A man was recently arrested and charged with aggravated assault and obstruction of an officer after reportedly striking a Wendy’s employee in the head with a metal pipe and fleeing on foot.

Dawson County Sheriff Jeff Johnson said that at 9:11 p.m. Dec. 29, deputies responded to the Wendy’s restaurant in Dawson County in reference to an assault.

The victim reported that an unknown male had stuck him in the back of the head and fled the store on foot toward Hwy. 53. Johnson said that deputies searched the area and a K9 officer was able to track the suspect to the area of Hughes Court.

During the arrest, the suspect, now identified as Donald William Murray, 36, of Brooks, physically resisted deputies, who utilized a Taser to stop the struggle.

Murray was taken to the Dawson County Detention Center and charged with one felony count of aggravated assault and three misdemeanor counts of obstruction of an officer.

Murray remains in custody and a bond has not been set, Johnson said.

The alleged victim was not transported to a medical facility for injuries.  

Johnson also reported that a Dahlonega man was arrested on Jan. 2 on one misdemeanor count of obstruction after deputies responded to a report of the man walking in and impeding traffic as well as throwing a rock at a passing vehicle.

The incident occurred at 9:55 a.m. on Lumpkin Campground Road near Red Rider Road.

Johnson said that when deputies made contact with the man, Robert Steven Sanders, 26, of Dahlonega, Sanders refused to comply with their orders.

Sanders, who was carrying knives and two machetes at the time of the incident, was detained and arrested after a brief physical struggle, Johnson said.

Sanders was later released on bond.

Three men were also arrested on Jan. 2 after a burglary was witnessed by a homeowner, Johnson said.

Deputies responded to a call around 8:02 a.m. at a home on Hwy. 53 East where homeowners reported a power tool, copper wire and batteries had been stolen.

Deputies detained a suspicious person who was loitering in the area. Deputies determined that the suspect, John Franklin Holder, 37, of Dawsonville, was acting as a lookout.

Police later identified two additional suspects. Franklin and Bobby Lynn Mills, 34, also of Dawsonville, were arrested and each charged with one felony count of being party to the crime of burglary, one felony count of being party to the crime of a criminal attempt to commit theft by taking, and one felony count of being party to the crime of entering auto.

Austin Gage Sammons, 26, of Dawsonville, was arrested on one felony count of second degree burglary, one felony count of entering auto and one felony count of criminal attempt.

All three remain in custody. Holder is being held without bond. Sammons and Mills are each being held on a $15,000 bond.