ELLIJAY, Ga. – Highway 52 and Boardtown Road in Ellijay, Georgia, saw a lot of activity from deputies yesterday as the Gilmer County Sheriff’s Office (GCSO) began searching for Jason Padgett.

Jason Padgett

According to the Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to Hilltop Apartments in reference to a report of someone, identified as Jason Padgett, making threats of harm to himself or possibly cause law enforcement to harm him during response.

Some information is still unclear as to the full extent of the report, however, the Sheriff’s Office spread their activity and search across areas surrounding Penland Street, Cox Creek, and Boardtown Road on Monday afternoon.

The public statement from GCSO said that reports came that Padgett was ‘possibly’ armed as deputies responded, but as soon as deputies arrived, he fled into the woods. According to the statement, “GCSO, along with EMA personnel, utilized a K-9 and other methods to search while setting up a perimeter. Padgett was not located, but based on the nature of the call, we do NOT feel he poses a threat to the general public.”

Thought he has misdemeanor warrants, the Sheriff’s Office said that the main purpose for the search was the report of him wanting to harm himself.