ELLIJAY, Ga. – According to reports, Ellijay City Police Officers made a Human Trafficking arrest around 1:00 a.m. on Friday, September 13, 2019.  The incident occurred when an officer performed a traffic stop on a 2019 Blue Toyota Prius on Old Highway 5 and continued to the hospital.

According to a press release, “Officer Brandon Heath of the City of Ellijay Police Department conducted a traffic stop at Old Highway 5 and Bobcat Trail in Ellijay, Georgia to investigate a vehicle which failed to dim headlights and had no working tag light.”

The driver, 26-year-old Cordarrel William Blandburg, allegedly told officials he was taking his fiancé, the female passenger in the vehicle, to the hospital for possible seizures. Officer Heath continued to hospital with the vehicle where the passenger was treated. However, the officer continued investigations. The investigation led officials to discover that Blandburg was not the passenger’s fiance and allegedly had possible gang affiliations.

According to the release, “This led to Officer Heath to confirm that Blandburg did not have an active driver’s license and revealed Blandburg had active warrants out of Clayton County, Georgia for the offenses of Obstruction of a Law Enforcement Officer and Aggravated Assault. The confirmation of this information resulted in Officer Heath arresting Blandburg.”

The report states the female passenger later explained to officers that Blandburg “was (as explained by the victim) her “owner and enforcer”.” According to Ellijay Police, Blandburg is still in custody at the Gilmer County Detention Center. However, they also stated, “Prior to release from custody, and upon posting bond in Gilmer County, he will be transferred to other jurisdictions having charges on him where he will be required to post additional bond on those charges.”

Further details on the incident and the victim involved are not being released as the investigation continues. However, Ellijay Police have contacted the Georgia Bureau of Investigation as well as Homeland Security Investigations who are now actively assisting in the ongoing and active investigation.

Read the full press release below:

On Friday, September 13, 2019 at 01:00 AM, Officer Brandon Heath of the City of Ellijay Police Department conducted a traffic stop at Old Highway 5 and Bobcat Trail in Ellijay, Georgia to investigate a vehicle which failed to dim headlights and had no working tag light. The driver, 26 year old Cordarrel William Blandburg, was found to be driving without a license and was found to have active warrants from Clayton County Ga. for Obstruction of Police as well as Aggravated Assault. Additional investigation led to information causing the Ellijay Police Department to charge Blandburg with Human Trafficking under OCGA 16-5-46.

Upon initial contact, Blandburg explained to Officer Heath that he was attempting to take his fiancé (female passenger) to the hospital due to possible seizures. The officer followed them to the hospital where the passenger was turned over to medical staff as the officer continued his investigation. This led to Officer Heath to confirm that Blandburg did not have an active driver’s license and revealed Blandburg had active warrants out of Clayton County, Georgia for the offenses of Obstruction of a Law Enforcement Officer and Aggravated Assault. The confirmation of this information resulted in Officer Heath arresting Blandburg.

Officer Heath continued to investigate the situation and upon doing so he discovered that Blandburg has possible gang affiliations and was not, as he first claimed, the passenger’s fiancé but was (as explained by the victim) her “owner and enforcer”. This continued investigation by Officer Heath led to information that Blandburg was participating in Human Trafficking for Sexual Purposes in violation of OCGA 16-5-46. Ellijay police Detective Doug Colburn began following up on the case and in doing so contacted the Georgia Bureau of Investigation as well as Homeland Security Investigations who are now actively assisting in the ongoing and active investigation.

Blandburg is currently held in the Gilmer County Detention Center on $17,000 bond. Prior to release from custody, and upon posting bond in Gilmer County, he will be transferred to other jurisdictions having charges on him where he will be required to post additional bond on those charges.