LAVONIA, GEORGIA — A semi-truck was placed out of service and impounded in northeast Georgia after a passenger called 911 claiming he had been assaulted and kidnapped, but officers later determined he was willingly traveling in the truck.
The incident happened at about 9 p.m. on April 20 on Bowman Street in Lavonia.
According to the Lavonia Police Department, the Hart County Sheriff’s Office first received the 911 call from a man who said he had been assaulted and kidnapped. Hart County 911 dispatchers were able to ping the phone and determined the call originated in or near the City of Hartwell.
911 Call Tracked as Truck Moved Toward Lavonia
As dispatchers continued tracking the phone, authorities determined the caller was traveling from Hart County toward Lavonia. While dispatch remained on the call, officials said there was a severe language barrier, but it was clear the caller was in distress.
Hart County deputies and Lavonia officers were updated on the caller’s location as the vehicle turned from Vickery Street onto Bowman Street.
Officers then intercepted the vehicle on Bowman Street and found it was a green semi-truck occupied by two Hispanic men who reportedly did not speak English.
Passenger Had Injuries, But Police Could Not Confirm Kidnapping
Police said the passenger who made the call had visible injuries and appeared to have been involved in some type of altercation. The truck driver was not injured.
Officers said communication with both men was very difficult because of the severe language barrier. Even with the help of a Spanish-speaking translator, police said they were unable to obtain verifiable details from either man.
According to the department, investigators were ultimately unable to determine what type of crime may have occurred or where it may have happened. Officers did confirm that the passenger was willingly in the vehicle with the driver.
Truck Placed Out of Service
After the stop, officers requested that Georgia Department of Public Safety Commercial Vehicle Enforcement respond to inspect the truck.
CVE officers arrived and placed the semi-truck out of service due to numerous violations. The vehicle was then towed by a local tow company and impounded.
Assault Investigation Still Ongoing
Lavonia Police said the investigation into the passenger’s alleged assault remains ongoing. Officers are still trying to determine the exact location of the incident, which they said may lead to more information about who was responsible.
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