FRANKLIN COUNTY, Ga. — A North Carolina man faces charges after deputies say he fled naked into the woods and onto Interstate 85 Thursday morning before being taken into custody.
According to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded between 8 and 9 a.m. June 26 to reports of a suspicious person near Neal Road.
When deputies arrived, they encountered a man later identified as Jacob Southall, of Gastonia, North Carolina. Authorities said Southall fled naked into nearby woods in the direction of Interstate 85.
Additional deputies responding to the area located Southall on I-85 near Neal Road. Following a brief struggle, deputies took him into custody and transported him to St. Mary’s Sacred Heart Hospital in Lavonia for evaluation.
The sheriff’s office said Southall faces charges of obstruction of a law enforcement officer and public indecency. However, officials indicated they are prioritizing treatment, citing what they described as signs of mental illness.
In a statement, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office said law enforcement’s responsibilities sometimes include protecting individuals from harming themselves as well as protecting the public.
The agency encouraged anyone experiencing a mental health crisis, or those concerned about a loved one, to contact the national 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for assistance and treatment options.
No injuries were reported during the incident. Southall’s condition was not immediately available.
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