Fugitive Encounter: Georgia Man’s Vigilance and Gun Ownership Thwart Escapee

A Georgia resident recently experienced a dramatic encounter when an escaped inmate showed up outside his home. The inmate, Bruce Douglas Partin Jr., had been on the run for three days after escaping from a work detail at the county dump. Caught unawares in a situation that many dread, the resident, Steven Kirby, handled the situation with the steel-nerved calm of a seasoned survivalist.

Partin had managed to evade the Towns County Sheriff’s Office, despite their extensive search efforts, which included deploying a drone and K-9 tracking dog. Partin, a resident of the Towns County Detention Center, was awaiting court appearances for several charges, which ranged from theft to probation violation and manufacture of marijuana.

“Authorities added that Partin was spotted on a trail camera at the end of Ivy Mountain Road in the Fodder Creek area Tuesday around 1:20 p.m. The sheriff’s office Facebook post includes a pair of images showing Partin in the woods.”

In a bid to recapture the fugitive, the Georgia State Patrol, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and the Department of Natural Resources pooled their resources. Despite the combined effort, Partin remained elusive, with authorities confirming he was still at large as of Tuesday afternoon.

The first breakthrough came when a resident spotted Partin, clad in his orange jail uniform, around 5:15 p.m. Thursday. This sighting prompted a surge of sheriff’s deputies to the area, ramping up the search mission.

However, it was Steven Kirby who became the pivotal player in this pressing saga. When his labradoodle, Odie, began to act aggressively, alerting him to someone outside his home, he ventured out to investigate. He was met with the imposing figure of Partin, standing 6 feet, 4 inches tall.

“But Kirby had a gun on him, and authorities said he drew his weapon and ordered Partin to the ground. Partin complied.”

An image shared on the sheriff’s Facebook page showed the dramatic moment of Kirby, gun drawn, standing over a compliant Partin. Kirby’s wife, Amy, called 911, and deputies arrived quickly to take Partin into custody, marking the end of his three-day run.

Sheriff Ken Henderson expressed his gratitude for the help from the Fodder Creek community and specifically praised Kirby for his courageous action.

“It is truly a pleasure to work in a community where we can count on the ongoing support of citizens like Mr. Kirby to stand behind us and, in cases like this, even physically aid us when necessary.”

Kirby and his dog Odie were recognized for their instrumental roles in Partin’s capture, and the family received a $500 reward.

“Sheriff Henderson strongly supports the 2nd Amendment and the right to bear arms and was thankful that Mr. Kirby’s instincts kicked in, and he went above and beyond to not only protect his family and property but his community as well,” the sheriff’s office Facebook entry said.

The incident serves as a compelling reminder of the importance of preparedness, vigilance, and the courage to act when called upon.

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