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Suspects accused of stealing gifts, leading police car chase
Deputies used spike strips
Amy Rider
Amy Rider

Two Hall County men led police on a car chase Thursday afternoon after Hall County Sheriff's investigators attempted to stop them in connection to a burglary of Christmas gifts.

Victor Ignacio Barragan, 22, of Flowery Branch and Frank Anthony Jaworski, 32, of Gainesville were arrested following the chase in which officers deployed spike strips, said Sgt. Stephen Wilbanks with the sheriff's office.

Barragan was the driver and is charged with aggravated assault on a peace officer after sheriff's officials said he attempted to crash into an investigator during the pursuit. He was also charged with burglary and 27 traffic violations from the pursuit.

Wilbanks said after further investigation, deputies arrested Amy Rider, 20, and a 16-year-old.

The juvenile, Rider and Jaworski are also each charged with burglary.

The chase began at about 3 p.m. on Atlanta Highway when investigators attempted to stop the red Honda that matched the description of a vehicle involved in burglaries, Wilbanks said.

"Deputies from the Uniform Patrol Division, who were also in the area, joined the pursuit, which proceeded out of town on Candler Road to Old Candler Road and then onto Monroe Drive," he said.

The chase ended at the intersection of Monroe Drive and Athens Street when the vehicle's tires were deflated by spike strips.

The suspect's vehicle contained property believed to be stolen during a burglary in the 4000 block of Old Cornelia Highway. The investigation also led to a residence on Laura Lane in Gainesville, where more property from the same burglary was found, Wilbanks said.

"Most of the property appeared to be Christmas gifts, some of which were still wrapped in gift paper," he said. "Items recovered included clothing, children's toys and electronics."

There were no injuries as a result of the chase and the incident remains under investigation by the Hall County Sheriff's Office, Criminal Investigations Division.