Decatur County Sheriff’s Office deputies have arrested a man that they believe recently stole money from the Decatur County Courthouse.

Deputies arrested the suspect, Timothy Hall, shortly before 2:15 p.m., on Monday, May 7. Hall was taken into custody at a residence at 905 S. West St. in Bainbridge, after deputies had received information that he was located there.

A woman opened the door to let employees inside the residence, and the deputies later brought out Hall in handcuffs to transport him to jail. Deputies then searched the home for further evidence. A black Ford Crown Victoria, which was parked in front of the residence, was also towed and is being held in connection with the investigation. Deputies also seized a pair of shoes from Hall’s family residence at 101 Pine Street in the Meadowbrook subdivision.

Hall is accused of stealing money from the courthouse’s Tax Commissioner’s Office, sometime between the evening of Thursday, May 3, and the morning of Friday, May 4. The thief reportedly broke a window on the side of the courthouse that faces Crawford Street, and entered the office where license plates are purchased and vehicle tags are renewed.

At one time, Hall had worked at the courthouse as a state inmate trustee, according to Sheriff Wiley Griffin.

Sheriff Griffin said cooperation between the Sheriff’s Office, Bainbridge Public Safety and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation led to Hall’s arrest. Capt. Gale Bowyer, the crime scene investigator at the Sheriff’s Office, and GBI Special Agent Wes Horne both retrieved evidence from the crime scene, Sheriff Griffin said.

Two separate concerned citizens contacted BPS Chief Investigator Frank Green and Capt. Chip Nix of the Sheriff’s Office and named Hall as a potential suspect, the Sheriff said.

“We really appreciate citizens calling us with information that helps us solve crimes,” Griffin said.

The thief then took six bags containing petty cash; the emptied bags were found discarded outside the courthouse. Law enforcement officials were able to view security video footage showing the suspect; it was not immediately clear if that video helped lead to Hall’s arrest Monday.

For more on this story, check this website and the Wednesday, May 9, edition of The Post-Searchlight.