Two area men were charged Friday with stealing copper from a cell tower on Friendship Road in South Hall County.

Jack Nance Gillis Jr., 50, of White County and Tommy Hyman Croy, 58, of Sugar Hill were charged with criminal interference with government property, criminal damage 1st degree, felony theft by taking and criminal trespass, said Sgt. Kiley Sargent with the Hall County Sheriff's Office. Croy also was charged with misdemeanor obstruction for fleeing.

Hall County Sheriff's Office deputies responded at about 11:30 a.m. Friday to the cell tower, after Hall County Central Communications received information about a possible theft, Sargent said. The cell tower site houses Hall County 911 and other cellular communication equipment.

A red Ford truck was at the scene and several subjects fled as deputies arrived, Sargent said. One suspect was taken into custody on the scene. K-9 units were used for tracking and another suspect was found in the Jones Creek subdivision in Gwinnett County.

Both were booked into the Hall County Jail. Hall County Sheriff's Office is investigating.