Five Wanted Fugitives Captured in Stephens County Following S.T.I.N.G. Unit Operations

Last week, the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office S.T.I.N.G. Unit successfully apprehended five wanted fugitives during multiple operations across the county.

On Tuesday, December 10, deputies executed a felony probation warrant for Theodore Swilling, 75, of Toccoa. Acting on a tip, deputies located Swilling at a family member’s residence and arrested him without incident. He was transported to the Stephens County Jail.

The following day, December 11, a deputy conducted a traffic stop near West Currahee Street and Peachtree Street. During the stop, the deputy discovered that the vehicle’s owner, identified as Joshua Johnson, 36, of Toccoa, had outstanding warrants in White County. Johnson was arrested and transported to the Stephens County Jail before being transferred to the custody of the White County Sheriff’s Office.

On Thursday, December 12, deputies responded to a tip about the location of two known fugitives, Abby Jordan, 30, and Ian Major, 36, both of Toccoa. Both were wanted on various charges, including fleeing law enforcement during prior traffic stops. Deputies arrested them at a residence on Brookdale Road without incident.

Jordan faces multiple charges, including Failure to Appear, Probation Violation, Failure to Pay Child Support, and several traffic offenses. Major is wanted for Felony Probation Violation and two counts of Failure to Appear. Both remain in custody at the Stephens County Jail without bond.

The week concluded with the arrest of Jeffrey Seth-Lamar Hawkins, 28, of Westminster, S.C., on Saturday, December 14. Deputies received a tip about Hawkins’ location in West Union, S.C., and coordinated with the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office to apprehend him. Hawkins, wanted by multiple agencies in South Carolina and Georgia, is currently held in South Carolina awaiting extradition to Stephens County.

The Stephens County Sheriff’s Office expressed gratitude to the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance and emphasized their ongoing commitment to public safety. Citizens with information on wanted persons are encouraged to contact the Criminal Investigations Division at (706) 886-7048 or submit tips anonymously through the “Stephens Co Sheriff’s Office” app.