CHEROKEE COUNTY – Deputies captured a Georgia fugitive Tuesday after he jumped into Weiss Lake and hid near Mud Creek.
According to the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, the man was Eric Carl Virta, 33, of Cartersville, Georgia.
Deputies went to a campground in Wildwood Cove off County Road 182. At the time, they were serving a warrant for the Floyd County Sheriff’s Office.
When deputies attempted to take him into custody, Virta ran and jumped into the lake. After crossing to the opposite shore, he entered the Kirk’s Grove and Mud Creek area.
Deputies then moved their search to that area and looked for Virta for more than an hour. More than an hour later, they found him hiding in a swampy area and arrested him without further incident.
No one reported injuries. Afterward, ALEA Marine Patrol transported Virta and the deputies back across the water by boat.
The capture marked another fugitive arrest in the Mud Creek area. Previously, in July 2025, deputies arrested a Pennsylvania fugitive near Mud Creek after a traffic stop.
Floyd County Warrants and Cherokee County Charges
The Sheriff’s Office said Virta’s Floyd County warrant involved a probation violation tied to the following allegations:
- Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
- Possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.
- Terroristic threats and acts.
In Cherokee County, Virta faces charges of fugitive from justice and attempting to elude.
The Sheriff’s Office thanked ALEA, the Leesburg Police Department, and the Cedar Bluff Police Department for their assistance.
The charges are allegations. Under the law, Virta remains innocent unless and until a court finds him guilty.
This article was updated to include more information from the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office.
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