Rome Man Arrested After Burglarizing/Vandalizing County Transportation Department Building, and Chase

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE…

Monday, December 26th, 2016

Rome Man Arrested After Burglarizing/Vandalizing County Transportation Department Building and Chase

Sheriff Mitch Ralston Reports:

At about 9:05 a.m. this morning (December 26), deputy sheriffs were dispatched to the County Transportation Department building on Fairmount Highway near Calhoun in response to a report of a man breaking into and damaging the facility. As deputies responded, a report was received that the man responsible had been seen at a convenience store in Sonoraville. Several state troopers responded to the Sonoraville area along with deputies and upon their arrival, the suspect fled away at a high rate of speed in a pickup truck. A deputy narrowly avoided being targeted by the driver of the truck as the pursuit continued westward on the Fairmount Highway. State troopers forced the pickup from the roadway at Blackwood. The driver attempted to resist arrest but was quickly subdued and taken into custody at about 9:20 a.m. without further incident.

Sheriff’s detectives described the damage at the County Transportation Department building as extensive. The building itself as well as a county vehicle was vandalized. Physical evidence at the scene indicated that a vehicle was driven through a large, bay door, as well as an attempt having been made to burn the county owned truck.

The defendant has been identified as one David Ray Jasman, age 36, of 136 Shoreline Drive, Rome, Georgia. It is not known at this point in the investigation if Jasman has any connection to our community, or why he chose to burglarize and damage the county facility. He is being held in custody and will face a litany of charges regarding burglary, damaging and destroying government-owned property, as well as fleeing from and assaulting peace officers.

Sheriff Ralston said that he was glad that this bizarre and dangerous chain of events was brought to a swift conclusion by his staff and the State Patrol. The Sheriff also thanked the citizens who reported the suspect to 911, and complimented the troopers from Post 43 for their assistance in this case.