Brooklet Man Arrested After Holding Woman Hostage at Winnie Brook Subdivision

Joshua Hellberg, of Brooklet, was arrested Tuesday on multiple charges after holding a woman hostage at gunpoint, while threatening to kill her and himself, then fleeing in to the woods. Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to Winnie Brook subdivision in Brooklet for the hostage situation. After making contact with Hellberg by telephone, the children in the residence were safely evacuated. The female was able to escape, while Hellberg remained barricaded inside the home. He then fled to the woods behind the home. BCSO S.E.R.T. team pursued him and gave verbal commands to surrender, which he eventually did. He was arrested and charged with obstruction of law enforcement officers(felony), possession of firearm or knife during commission of or attempt to commit certain felonies(2 charges), false imprisonment, and terroristic threats and acts, aggravated assault(2 charges).

From BCSO:

On February 27th Deputies from the Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office responded to the Winnie Brook Subdivision in Brooklet for a hostage situation. The suspect was reportedly holding a female at gunpoint and threatening to kill both her and himself. The suspect was identified as Joshua Hellberg. Contact was made with Hellberg by telephone, and children in the residence were safely evacuated. Hellberg continued to hold the female at gunpoint as a Sheriff’s negotiation team continued dialogue as much as possible. The female was subsequently able to escape and took two weapons from the home with her to turn over to law enforcement. Hellberg remained barricaded with a rifle and several other reported firearms. As Deputies were attempting to warn neighbors in the area to shelter in place, Hellberg fled out the back of the home armed with a rifle. The Sheriff’s S.E.R.T. team pursued him as he ran into a wooded area. Members of the S.E.R.T. team gave him verbal commands to surrender. He eventually complied and walked out, leaving the rifle behind in the woods. Drone operators were able to mark the location of the rifle using a F.L.I.R. camera, enabling it to be quickly recovered. Sheriff Brown would like to thank all the members of his office who responded to this incident. He would also like to thank the Georgia State Patrol who provided several Troopers to assist as well as Bulloch County E.M.S., who stood by until the situation was resolved. Sheriff Brown would like to especially commend the drone operators from the Sheriff’s U.A.V. unit who responded to this incident. They were able to relay suspect location and activities to the S.E.R.T. team, and were instrumental in locating the weapon which was abandoned by Hellberg in the woods.