Man Tries to Run Down Forsyth County Cops on 'Knock-and-Talk'

A Cumming man with whom Forsyth County authorities had hoped to speak tried to run down two investigators and led police on a chase that ended with a crash, sheriff's office spokesman Doug Rainwater said.

Jeffrey Scott Hamilton, 33, now faces a slew of charges in connection with the Wednesday incident and more likely are to come.

Rainwater said two FCSO investigators "learned (Hamilton) was dealing in stolen property" and went to his Churchill Downs home off Buford Highway to conduct a "knock and talk."

The officers were in Hamilton's driveway when he arrived.

"In an attempt to get away, he tried run over two investigators," Rainwater said, adding Hamilton was driving an older-model, small sedan. "They had to jump out of the way."

As a result, a chase ensued up and down Buford Highway, Rainwater said.

"He was going toward Cumming but one of our deputies, who was in front of the case, set up a roadblock," Rainwater said. "He made a U-turn and headed back toward Gwinnett County."

The police chase lasted 3 or 4 minutes, reaching speeds of 65 to 70 mph, and ended with a P.I.T. maneuver at Sanders Road after the U-turn, Rainwater added. 

He said deputies found a number of allegedly stolen items along with methamphetamine and a meth pipe in the car.

"Based on what we found in the car, there are several different victims," Rainwater said, adding authorities now are working to locate the victims of those alleged thefts, which likely will lead to theft-by-receiving-stolen-property charges against Hamilton.

He currently faces two counts of aggravated assault on a police officer, theft by deception, possession of meth, possession of a drug-related object, driving while unlicensed, fleeing or attempting to elude police, failing to stop and two counts of failing to obey traffic devices.

"It was just a knock-and-talk," Rainwater said. "That's all it was."

Hamilton is being held in the Forsyth County jail, pending a bond hearing.

Tell us what you think in the comments, share your photos and videos, and don’t miss any of the local news you care about—subscribe to Cumming Patch’s free newsletter, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.