In Franklin County, Georgia, a man was arrested on Sunday after a domestic incident turned into a tense standoff with law enforcement. The situation began earlier in the day near Highway 106 in Carnesville, where deputies say a woman was assaulted by her boyfriend.
According to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, the woman reported that her boyfriend had hit her in the face. She also told authorities he had a gun and made alarming threats toward both her and himself. The victim sought help at a Citgo gas station in Lavonia around 6:50 p.m., where deputies responded to her call.
While deputies were with the victim at the Citgo, a call came in to Lavonia Police about a man barricading himself inside a house on Rainbow Drive. It turned out this was the same home where the victim had been earlier, tying the two incidents together.
Despite efforts to negotiate with the man, authorities were unable to get him to surrender. This led to a coordinated response involving deputies, the Lavonia Police Department, Georgia State Patrol, the State Patrol’s SWAT team, and Georgia Power.
After gaining entry to the home, officers were able to take the suspect into custody. He sustained minor injuries from a dog bite during the arrest and was taken to a medical facility for treatment before being booked into the Franklin County Jail.
The suspect was identified as William Gregory Ballenger, a 43-year-old from Commerce, Georgia. He now faces charges including two counts of aggravated assault, battery (family violence), and terroristic threats and acts.
