Meriwether County Sheriff Chuck Smith reported that his agency recently was involved in the arrest of two wanted fugitives for the offense of murder.
“On July 21, 2020 around 10:23 pm. a motor vehicle chase entered Meriwether County out of Coweta County. Information was received that the Grantville Police Department along with the Coweta County Sheriff’s Office were in pursuit of a 2020 Ford Fusion, black in color, which was occupied by a subject wanted for the offenses of Homicide and Armed Robbery out of Columbus, Ga. Our personnel joined the pursuit in Luthersville, Ga. in which the suspect vehicle traveled southbound on Roosevelt Hwy. traveling toward Greenville. Grantville P.D. and Coweta S.O. maintained primary pursuit while our personnel provided secondary pursuit and radio support through Meriwether County E-911. As the suspect vehicle approach the courthouse square in Greenville, Ga. on Roosevelt Hwy. the driver struck the concrete median divider which led to the vehicle wrecking and striking the courthouse retaining wall. The driver and a front seat passenger were taken into custody by Greenville P.D. Officers who were on scene at the time of the crash. The homicide suspect who was a passenger in the back seat of the vehicle fled on foot toward Woodbury Hwy. A perimeter was set up immediately in the area with K-9’s and Coweta County S.O.’s air support en-route. Once the tracking K-9 arrived on the scene a track was started. Shortly thereafter a Coweta County Deputy observed the homicide suspect hiding in some Kudzu in which he was given verbal commands at that time. The homicide/armed robbery suspect identified as Lydell Sparks, B/M, 20 YOA. of Columbus, Ga. was taken into custody without incident. The Georgia State Patrol responded to the wreck scene to conduct the traffic crash investigation, along with Meriwether County Fire and EMS. Further information received was that this incident originated with a traffic stop on I-85 at the 38 mm by Grantville P.D. All of the suspects related to this case investigation were turned over to Grantville P.D. and Coweta Co. S.O. for transport to the Coweta County Jail. The suspect vehicle which was identified as a rental car was reported to Columbus P.D. on July 22, 2020 as stolen.
On July 22, 2020 our agency was contacted by the Houston Police Department, Homicide Division, Houston, Texas regarding a homicide suspect that was believed to be located in Meriwether County. Houston P.D. Homicide Detectives sent us a copy of all related information on the suspect along with a murder warrant with full extradition. Our criminal investigation division was tasked with verifying the location of the residence in question, conducting surveillance to verify and effect an arrest of the suspect related to this murder warrant. Through the course of this investigation information was obtained that would corroborate that the wanted subject was in fact at the location provided. Our personnel obtained a search warrant for the location in question which was in the 400 block of Country Club Road, Woodbury, Ga. We reached out to our local liaison with the U.S. Marshal’s service to assist us with this arrest due to the nature of the offense. Our personnel, along with the U.S. Marshal’s Service and members of the Coweta County Sheriff’s Office S.W.A.T. Team briefed on the case. We then proceeded to the location to execute the search warrant of the residence in question. The Coweta County S.W.A.T Team made entry to the location while our personnel maintained perimeter security. During this time a B/M subject matching the description of the suspect came around the rear of the residence. The suspect was given verbal commands and was taken into custody without incident. The suspect identified as Patrick Bernard Hall, B/M, 53 YOA. formerly of Houston, Texas was arrested on a fugitive from justice warrant related to being wanted for murder out of Houston, Texas. Hall was transported to the Meriwether County Jail where he is being held without bond. Houston P.D. Detectives flew in and conducted their initial interview with the suspect at the Meriwether County Jail related to their case investigation. Hall waived extradition through the Meriwether County Magistrate Court and will be transported back to Houston by the Harris County Sheriff’s Office Transport Unit, Harris County, Texas.” Sheriff Chuck Smith said.
“I greatly appreciate all agencies working together collaboratively to effect the arrest on two wanted suspects related to these reported heinous crimes. I also want to the thank the U.S. Marshal’s Service along with the Coweta County Sheriff’s Office in their assistance provided getting the murder suspect in custody without incident that is wanted out of Houston, Texas. I appreciate our close working relationship and their professionalism. Our personnel did a great job as well along with all agencies involved.” Sheriff Smith advised.
Note: Arrest Booking Reports can be obtained from the Meriwether County Sheriff’s Office Records or Jail Division by news agencies that have waivers on file with this agency, (706) 672-4489. If news agencies do not have a waiver on file one can be obtained from this agency in accordance to O.C.G.A. 35-1-18.