Joshua David Cole
Joshua David Cole, 26, of Dalton, has been arrested on multiple charges in Whitfield County.
The Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation identified and arrested Cole, who was responsible for a home invasion that occurred Wednesday, in Whitfield County.
An 85-year old Lake Katherine Road resident reported he encountered a white male in his residence around 3:30 a.m. after he heard a noise in his kitchen. The elderly man lived alone and was overpowered by Cole.
The victim was restrained with masking tape for several hours while Cole prowled through his residence. The victim was robbed of his firearms, credit cards, and other items. Cole placed the items in the victim’s car and stole the victim’s 1992 Buick Regal. After Cole left, the victim was able to go to a nearby residence and notify law enforcement. The victim was bruised during the incident but did not require medical attention.
On Thursday, a sketch artist from the GBI did a sketch of the suspect as described by the victim. After the sketch was provided to the news media the sheriff’s office started receiving calls advising of a possible suspect. Investigators were able to get a positive identification on Cole, and he was identified as Joshua Cole of Dalton.
The GBI and Sheriff’s Office determined Cole had spent the last couple of nights with a friend in Catoosa County, just south of Ringgold Road in East Ridge. Officers went to the area on Friday and located the victim’s stolen vehicle at the residence. Cole was not at the residence at the time the vehicle was recovered.
Numerous officers from Whitfield, Catoosa, and East Ridge Tennessee started searching the area for Cole. Around 5 p.m., a couple of officers from Whitfield County spotted Cole in the parking lot of a warehouse just south of the residence where he had been staying. Cole fled on foot but was captured by the officers. During the foot chase, the suspect threw a gun down, and it was recovered by officers.
Cole was brought back to Whitfield County where he is being booked on charges of burglary, false imprisonment, theft by taking, armed robbery, financial transaction card theft and fraud, terroristic threats and acts, possession of firearm during the commission of a felony, exploitation and intimidation of an elder person, and other charges.
Cole was discovered to have some methamphetamine in his possession at the time of his arrest, and additional charges are expected. The investigation will continue.