On Sunday, January 15, 2023, at approximately 0030 hours, K-9 Cpl. Micheal Nelson conducted a traffic stop on Carl Vinson Parkway, on a U-Haul van for a traffic violation. As he gave his final location, he was advised by dispatchers that Houston County Sheriff Office was also enroute to a residence in the area for a U-Haul striking a mailbox twice. Cpl. Nelson made contact with the driver and asked him to step out of the vehicle and advised the driver, later identified as Jason Byram, that he was being detained at the moment until he could confirm what was going on with the county call. As Cpl. Nelson was about to handcuff Byram in the rear, Byram snatched away from Cpl. Nelson and tried to flee the area. Cpl. Nelson immediately caught the subject and both subjects fell to the ground. Byram was able to flee the area into the adjacent woods off the roadway. Cpl. Nelson called for backup while he detained two other subjects that were in the vehicle with Byram.

Cpl. Nelson was struck in the face when Byram snatched away from him. After falling to ground and immediately attempting to get up, Cpl. Nelson sustained an injury to his leg, thought to be damage to his Achilles Tendon. He was treated at the Houston Medical Center and then referred to a Orthopedic specialist for further evaluations.

The suspect now has active warrants for Aggravated Battery (Felony) and Obstruction (Felony), with other charges possibly pending. If anyone has information of the whereabouts of the subject, please submit tip anonymously to 1-877-68CRIME