GAINESVILLE - A Covington man is in custody after a standoff with Hall County authorities Thursday morning at Laurel Park just of Highway 129.<br />
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Hall County Sheriff's Deputy Nicole Bailes identified the man as 36-year-old Samuel Lamar Peppers. She said Peppers had been the object of an undercover investigation involving Internet predators. An investigator had been communicating with Peppers online the past two weeks, posing as a 14-year-old girl.<br />
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Bailes said Peppers had engaged in sexually explicit conversations with the investigator and also had provided pornographic images of himself to the investigator. In addition, Peppers reportedly asked to meet the investigator - believing he was meeting with a teenage girl - for the purpose of having sex.<br />
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The designated meeting place was Laurel Park, according to Bailes. She said Peppers arrived at the park around 9 a.m. and investigators were in place, waiting to make an arrest. <br />
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She said Peppers became suspicious and tried to drive away. <br />
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"We had marked patrol vehicles blocking the exit area of Laurel Park, so that is at what point Mr. Peppers did stop his vehicle and retrieved a firearm," Bailes said.<br />
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Because investigators were unsure of Peppers' next move, Bailes said SWAT team members, SWAT medics from Hall County Fire Services and a negotiator were called.<br />
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"After about an hour and a half of negotiating on a bullhorn with him and then eventually getting him on his cell phone, he did surrender to us," Bailes said.<br />
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So far, Peppers has been charged with child enticement and criminal attempt of child molestation. Bailes said other charges are pending.
