A Cleveland man was arrested Saturday after a car chase and officer-involved shooting in White County following reports of a vehicle fire and burglary in Habersham County.
Habersham County dispatch responded to a reported vehicle fire Saturday morning at 562 Sutton Road in Demorest. Upon arrival, crewmen found a pickup truck on fire at a detached shop and brought the blaze under control.
The Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck was destroyed in the fire, according to Habersham County spokesman Rob Moore.
The incident has been described by officials as an "incendiary fire," which was allegedly started by Alan Paul Heinze, 53, prior to the vehicle chase and officer-involved shooting that occurred in White County soon after.
“The State Fire Marshal’s Office is out here doing their investigation,” Habersham County Sheriff’s Investigator George Cason said. “They’re actually going to be taking the charges of arson in the second degree for the burning of the truck, which actually inevitably entailed where the suspect ended up coming up here in a box truck, caused the damage to the truck after doing all his nefarious crimes here.”
After the arson, Heinze fled the scene in a rented Penske box truck at "a high rate of speed," according to witnesses.
“He ended up speeding out of the driveway headed toward [Ga.] 115, which he ended up entering White County and initiated a chase with the White County Sheriff’s Office that subsequently ended in him being apprehended,” Cason said.
In addition to the previously released charges, Heinze now faces a burglary charge as well as an unsecured load charge, as he dumped items from the box truck down the side of the road during his escape.
Original story published Saturday, Oct. 7, at 5:40 p.m.:
A Cleveland man was arrested and injured Saturday after a car chase and officer-involved shooting in White County near Cleveland.
The White County Sheriff's office said in a release the chase began around 11 a.m. when the suspect 53-year-old Alan Paul Heinze was traveling westbound on Hwy 115 East in a Penske box truck.
Officials said the back of the truck was open and various household items, including furniture were falling out of the truck.
White County deputies attempted to stop Heinze but he allegedly fled from authorities.
Heinze disabled one patrol car by ramming it officials said.
Deputies attempted multiple PIT maneuvers to stop the truck but were unsuccessful.
During the pursuit, it is alleged that Heinze attempted to run over a deputy with the truck. That is when officers opened fire on the man striking him in the arm, but he continued to flee.
During the pursuit, the Cleveland Police Department became involved and was eventually able to halt Heinze in the parking lot of Jack P. Nix Elementary School.
No law enforcement officers were injured during the pursuit.
Heinze faces multiple charges including aggravated assault on a peace officer.
The Georgia State Patrol was requested to work the vehicle accidents and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation was requested to work the officer-involved shooting.
Heinze was taken into custody and transported to Northeast Georgia Medical Center for his injuries.
