Arson suspect charged with additional burglaries

HIAWASSEE, Ga. – Towns County Sheriff’s deputies rearrested Austin James Shook on Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017, charging him with an additional count of first-degree burglary, one count of second-degree burglary and one count of possession of burglary tools.  The charges stemmed from two reported burglaries within Bald Mountain Park.

Shook was released on bond at the time for previous charges of burglary and arson, which occurred during the early morning hours of Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 23. The residence, located on Glassy Mountain Road, was unoccupied at the time of the incident.  Upon further investigation, it was determined that the residence was burglarized prior to the start of the fire.

Sheriff’s Investigators executed a search warrant at the suspect’s residence located near the scene of the crime, recovering related evidence. Investigators arrested Shook, 19, of Hiawassee, Georgia, charging him with two initial counts of burglary in the first-degree, one count of possession of burglary tools and one count of arson in the first-degree.

This investigation is active and ongoing at this time.  As the investigation proceeds, additional charges are likely.

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