Patrick Hale lives in the home where the two convicted felons were arrested Thursday (6/15/2017) night. The 35-year old pharmaceutical rep wanted to set the records straight and return normalcy to his neighborhood.
Patrick Hale and his daughter were the only ones at home when two convicted felons climbed a fence and entered his yard. Prior to that frightening moment, he received two calls from friends warning that the escapees wanted for murdering officers in Georgia were in the area. That gave Hale time to load all of his weapons and decide what to do.
He told officials at the Rutherford County Sheriffs Office that media representatives were all over his neighborhood--blocking driveways and asking questions. He wanted to get life back to normal in the community. Hale asked Sheriff Mike Fitzhugh if he could call a press conference to answer questions. Hopefully, the media would then leave.
At the beginning of the 4:00 o'clock Friday (6/16/2017) press conference at the Rutherford County Sheriffs Office, Sheriff Fitzhugh said that Patrick Hale would give a detailed time-line of what happened and then would answer two questions. Many more questions were asked, and the Pruitt Road resident graciously answered them.
It was emotional as the Pruitt Road man told of how Rowe and Dubose surrendered.
Patrick Hale commented . . .
(Time: 36-seconds)
Georgia fugitives Donnie Rowe and Ricky Dubose took off their shirts and waved them at Hale, and surrendered by lying down in the driveway of his Pruitt Road home. He had already called 911, and within minutes 45 officers surrounded the property and arrested the escaped convicted felons.
When asked about the reward money, he paused and said that he was not aware of it as this scenario played out.
Georgia officials are indicating the reward might not be given, since it appears police made the arrests. Reports indicate that it had grown to $130,000.
You need to hear the full story
Patrick Hale shares what happened to him and his daughter on Thursday evening (6/15/2017). Listen to his personal account of an afternoon that will forever change his life.
(Time: 3-minutes, 38-seconds)
