Charges Filed in Royston Car Theft

A Hart County man is in custody, charged with the theft of two cars from Tri-County Chevrolet last month.

According to the Hart County Sheriff’s Office, 38-year-old Michael Thomas Evans of Hart County was arrested earlier this month after a tip led sheriff’s deputies to a deer camp on Cokesbury Highway where Evans and two other suspects were thought to be.

Hart County Sheriff Mike Cleveland and his deputies set up a look out at the deer camp.

Cleveland said that about midnight on February 4th, Evans and the other suspects arrived at the deer camp, at which time Cleveland and the deputies rushed in and arrested him.

The two other suspects with Evans, who have not been identified, got away.

Authorities used helicopters and search dogs but did not find them.

Royston Police said Evans and possibly other accomplices stole a 1956 black Chevy Bel-Air and a 2015 orange Dodge Challenger from Tri-County Chevrolet in Royston sometime over New Year’s weekend.

Three weeks later, Royston Police Chief Donnie Boleman said he and Sheriff Cleveland, along with several deputies uncovered the stolen cars in the southern part of the County near the Elbert County line.

In Hart County, Evans faces a laundry list of charges including burglary, operating a chop shop, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and obstruction of an officer.

Boleman said Evans will also face charges in Franklin County, according to Boleman.

“We have warrants on Michael Evans,” Boleman said. “He will come to Franklin County after he satisfies the Hart County charges. At this point, he is the only one being charged with the car thefts, but we do have other suspects we are looking at.”

Boleman said his office is waiting for evidence test results to come back from the GBI Crime Lab after which he expects more charges will be filed against Evans in Franklin County.

Evans is currently being held in the Hart County Jail with a hold on him for Franklin County and Madison County on a probation violation.

Boleman said the investigation into the two other suspects continues in Franklin County.