According to Cherokee County Sheriff Jeff Shaver, deputies responded to a reported robbery in the Blue Pond Gap area where a suspect allegedly stole an ATV at knifepoint.
During the confrontation, the homeowner retrieved a firearm and fired multiple shots in self-defense. The suspect then fled on the stolen ATV, later crashing it in nearby woods before continuing to flee on foot. Unsure if the suspect had been hit, deputies began a large-scale search of the area.
Several hours later, with help from local agencies, authorities located the suspect unharmed in a field near County Road 48 and AL Highway 273.
The man, identified as William Justin Tapp, 41, of Cedar Bluff, was arrested and charged with Robbery in the First Degree. He was transported to the Cherokee County Detention Center.
Sheriff Shaver expressed gratitude to the Cedar Bluff Police Department, Leesburg Police Department, and the Cherokee County Emergency Management Agency for their support in the search and apprehension.
