SWAT team call in; burglar busted in Ivey

Law enforcement zeroed in on Jeremy Lee Fritts, accused of committing a burglary in the 110 block of Tanglewood Drive in Ivey.

Fritts wasn’t ready to go back to jail, however, barricading himself inside of a home on Country Club Road and refusing to come out. The Georgia State Patrol was notified, and the GSP sent out a SWAT team. After several hours, Fritts “opened the door and surrendered without incident,” according to an incident report.

The investigation began after a woman on Tanglewood Drive reported a burglary that included roughly $500 worth of tools. Two days later, the woman contacted detectives, telling them that the burglar’s name was Jeremy Fritts. After several more interviews, the Wilkinson County Sheriff’s Office filed for the arrest warrant.

Arrested alongside Fritts was his girlfriend – Amber Michelle Watkins, 38, listed with a Gordon address. She was charged with hindering the apprehension of a criminal.

Fritts, listed with a Jasper County address, has been in and out of state prison for the last 20 years. Past convictions include numerous methamphetamine charges, theft by conversion, identity fraud and theft by taking.