THOMASVILLE- The Thomas County Sheriff’s Office has issued a reward of up to $2,500 leading to the whereabouts of Andrue “Trent” Hires. 

Hires was last seen fleeing a traffic stop by the Grady County Sheriff’s Office on Monday, July 18, 2022. Reports indicate that Hires stopped his 2013 Nissan Altima on Hwy. 84 at the Grady/Thomas County line, before jumping off the Barnett’s Creek Bridge to escape custody. 

Grady County Sheriff’s Office diligently searched the area, but could not locate Hires. 

Hires left behind his cell phone in his vehicle and has not been heard from or seen since the incident. 

Now, TCSO is using every resource available to locate Hires and give closure to his family. 

Capt. Steven Jones said the Sheriff’s Office has no indication if Hires is alive or was fatally injured while trying to escape. 

“We are working both sides of the investigation,” Jones said. “We are trying to either make a body recovery or solve a crime, so we can give closure to the family.” 

On Friday afternoon, Jones returned to Barnett’s Creek with Georgia Body Recovery Team (GBRT) and special K-9, Jakoby. The officers on the team conducted both an aerial sweep along with a sweep done by Jakoby and found no evidence leading to Hires’ whereabouts. 

Jones is not throwing in the towel, though.He said he is continuing to follow up on every tip they receive. 

“Nothing is too big or too small at this point,” he said. “It could be the missing piece to the puzzle.” 

Jones wants Hires to know it is no longer about the warrants; they want to make sure he is safe. 

Jones, along with fellow officers, have visited numerous homeless encampments to both check on the safety of the dwellers and look for Hires, who often could be found there. 

However, Hires is still in the wind. Jones said he has no prior knowledge of Hires living off the land, besides what he learned in the homeless encampments and could be seriously injured. 

Jones urges anyone with any information to please contact him at 229-225-3300.