Mountain City man facing battery, obstruction charges

Last Wednesday, a Mountain City man was arrested after walking towards Clayton shirtless obstructing traffic and nearly causing some drivers to swerve off the road after jumping in front of motorist(s).

According to the Rabun County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were traveling west on HWY 76 West when they passed a man who was clearly intoxicated and made “crude gestures” towards law enforcememnt as they passed the man.

Moments later, a driver notified deputies that the man jumped out in front of her vehicle as she was driving and “she nearly missed hitting him” and that authorities should check on the individual.

Deputies identified the inebriated man as Austin Micheal Turner, 23, who told authorities that he had been drinking after fighting with his girlfriend.

After being detained by law enforcememnt, Turner became uncooperative and resisted orders to remain calm. According to the police report, he smashed his head so hard into the back of the deputies patrol car that it broke the plastic cage causing a large laceration on Turner’s head.

Turner received medical attention at Mountain Lakes Medical Center before he was transported to the Rabun County Detention Center.

Turner has been charged with pedestrian under the influence of alcohol or drugs, obstructing or hindering law enforcement, criminal interference with government property and simple battery.