Sheriff’s Office Deputies have been extremely busy over the past several days in Chattooga County. 

The Sheriff’s Office worked with the Town of Trion in a high-speed chase which ended in a suicide last week – then there was a home invasion in Lyerly that left one man hospitalized after suffering stab wounds and on Saturday morning Sheriff Mark Schrader and several of the department’s investigators responded to a report of a shooting on Dry Valley Road. 

Sheriff Schrader told media outlets he isn’t sure what is causing such an uptick in out of the ordinary crime, but he suspects that people are on edge due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  The sheriff said his deputies are trying to adhere to protocol, and practice social distancing as much as possible – not the easiest thing to do in law enforcement.  Sheriff’s Office staff members have been asked to avoid shaking hands, and stand about six feet away from citizens that they’re meeting or speaking with.  Also, if you request a deputy for a report or other reason the sheriff is asking that you step outside your home, if feasible, when you meet with them.

Deputies have been authorized to handle certain reports via telephone. Sheriff Schrader says, “These precautionary measures will not hinder any criminal investigation.”  Sheriff Schrader added, “Since we also have a large population of individuals housed in a confined space, we will be taking precautionary measures at the jail as well.  The one that will most likely affect family of incarcerated persons are revised visitation schedules.   Also, services where outside individuals are allowed to meet with inmates – including all church services in addition to drug counseling services – are suspended for now.”

(WZQZ Chattooga County Radio)