In the early morning hours of Saturday, February 25, a truck driver was arrested after he made threats and then led Deputies on a chase.
Around midnight, the Columbia County Combined Communication Center received a 911 call from a subject making threats against President Trump. The subject later identified as Ausarmaat Rahotep, 37 of Rhode Island, told the 911 operator he was “headed to Donald Trump with Bombs”.
The Emergency Operator was able to learn that the subject was in a large truck and believed it to be parked along the interstate. Deputies, FHP and other agencies began checking the interstates.
While checking north on I-75, a CCSO Deputy located a white semi-tractor trailer on the shoulder of the north bound interstate. The Deputy activated his emergency lights and the truck drove off northbound. As the Deputies followed the truck with lights and sirens the driver was weaving back and forth across all the northbound lanes but maintained highway speeds.
The truck pulled into the Agricultural Inspection Station on I-75 in Hamilton County, where the driver was arrested without incident.
Due to the threat of explosives, a Valdosta Police explosives detection K-9 team responded and checked the truck and trailer. No explosives were located. The trailer was loaded with pool construction materials.
Rahotep was arrested for reckless driving, fleeing and attempting to elude, and making threats against elected officials. Rahotep was booked into Hamilton County Detention Facility and then transferred to the Columbia County Detention Facility where he is currently housed with no bond.
This is an active and on-going investigation.
Sheriff Mark Hunter said, “We are grateful for the assistance of all our law enforcement partners in this case; this was a team effort from dispatch to all the law enforcement agencies involved.”
Tractor trailer stopped at the Ag station
contents of trailer after cleared by K9 team
