Michael Ryan Morris, 37, of Winder, faces four charges after Hart County deputies investigated reports that he tried to enter an occupied vehicle and a nearby home on Bakers Bridge Road Tuesday morning, according to the Hart County Sheriff's Office account reported by FOX 5 Atlanta.
Charges and custody
The charges are second-degree hijacking of a motor vehicle, disorderly conduct, simple assault and loitering, according to WSB-TV. Deputies also determined that Morris was wanted in Barrow County on a probation-violation warrant, FOX 5 reported.
The Hart County Sheriff's Office said the first call came shortly after 7:30 a.m. Tuesday from the Bakers Bridge Road area. The report involved a woman who was inside the vehicle when Morris allegedly tried to force his way in. A subsequent report concerned an attempt to enter a nearby home. Investigators said Morris had no connection to the woman.
Hart County Emergency Medical Services took Morris to St. Mary's Emergency Room for an evaluation. Deputies brought him to the Hart County Jail after he was medically cleared, according to FOX 5.
Hart County crime data
For broader local context, Hart County recorded 311 reported index crimes in 2024, including 21 motor vehicle thefts and two robberies, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Those figures provide the county's reported totals for the most recent complete year in the available statistics.
Information not yet released
Authorities had not publicly identified a reason for the reported attempts to enter the vehicle and home as of Thursday, September 17. FOX 5 also reported that officials had not confirmed a first court appearance or bond amount. It was likewise unclear what prompted Morris to travel from Winder to Hart County.
