LOWNDES Co. – On Sunday, investigators with the Special Operations Division of the Sheriff’s Office culminated a lengthy effort to locate Rickey Barron, 38, for a number of arrest warrants including probation violation, family violence and cruelty to children related offenses. Some of these warrants had been outstanding since 2014.

Sunday morning investigators learned that Barron was at a Brandonshire Lane address and a search warrant was obtained. During the service of the search warrant, investigators located Rickey Barron hiding in a closet. Octavia Johnson, 32, who lives in the home was arrested for her efforts to hide Rickey Barron.

Barron was charged with violation of probation, two counts of battery – family violence, four counts of cruelty to children, false imprisonment, theft by taking and obstruction of an officer.

Johnson was charged with hindering apprehension of a wanted person and obstruction of an officer.

Octavia Johnson and Rickey Barron were both taken to the Lowndes County Jail and will appear in the Lowndes County Magistrate Court this afternoon where a bond will be considered.

“The persistence of our investigators to keep searching and working on these cases is great. A person can’t hide forever, you are only prolonging the issue,” said Sheriff Chris Prine.

Anyone with information about other wanted persons or any other incident can contact the Sheriff’s Office at {229} 671-2950; or anonymous tips can be provided at {229} 671-2985 or on-line at www.lowndessheriff.com. The Sheriff’s Office is also accessible on Facebook.

Release from the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office