Murphy – A Florida man who refused to leave the local homeless shelter was arrested on four charges
Jan. 3.
Around 8:28 a.m. Jan. 3, Cherokee County E-911 Communications received a call in reference to a suspicious person acting unstable and refusing to leave the Hurlburt-Johnson Friendship House at 73 Blumenthal St. downtown. At 8:37 a.m., Patrol Officer Ryan Morrow arrived on scene to speak with Noah Edguardo Garcia of Kissimmee, Fla., who had been staying at the homeless shelter, according to a release from the Murphy Police Department.
At this time, Garcia as notified by Morrow that he was banned from the shelter and not to come back on the premises. However, shortly thereafter, Garcia was back again. Morrow was called back to the shelter, and during this time also spoke with Garcia’s mother, who said her son was attempting to return to Florida.
While Garcia was being placed under arrest for second-degree trespassing, an altercation ensued while Morrow was attempting to place him in handcuffs. As this was occurring, multiple Cherokee County sheriff’s deputies responding to assist as well as other Murphy police
officers.
In addition to one count of second-degree trespass, Garcia was charged with one count of resisting public officer, one count of assault on a government official and one count of misdemeanor larceny. He was given a $3,000 secured bond with an initial court date of Wednesday, Jan. 19, and is in the Cherokee County Detention Center.
“Over the years we have seen an increase in the homeless population in the Town of Murphy as well as Cherokee County,” Police Chief Justin Jacobs said in the release. “While it is unfortunate for this specific population, these actions will not be tolerated on the law enforcement officers that serve this community and, more importantly, they will not be tolerated on the citizens, business owners and travelers of the Town of Murphy and Cherokee County.”