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Thursday, November 12, 2026Nov 12

Chattooga County deputies smash car window, find moonshine

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The Chattooga County (Georgia) Sheriff’s Office smashed in a driver’s window and found moonshine inside his car.

According to an incident report, Deputy Josiah Hemm drove to the Chattooga County Memorial Home after someone reported people loudly arguing outside. When he got there, he said, Hemm smelled alcohol and decided to “hang out.” He saw a guy with a busted lip trying to leave in his car, so he tried to stop him.

While Hemm approached, according to the report, a woman in front of him told the man with the busted lip, “You need to leave because the cops are on their way.” The woman had not seen Hemm. The man with the busted lip, later identified as 36-year-old Lucas Vandermark, smelled like alcohol, Hemm wrote. The deputy tried to talk to him, but Vandermark drove away.

Hemm followed, according to the report. He saw Vandermark run off the roadway twice. Hemm flipped on his blue lights, and Vandermark pulled into a parking at 195 Back Penn Road. By that point, Deputy Thomas Sainthill was already there. Deputy Derek Mitchell and Cpl. Jerry Davenport responded, too.

Hemm explained why he stopped him.