Buford Man Charged With Hiding Dacula Man From Police

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA — Two Gwinnett County men remained in the Hall County Jail on Wednesday, both facing charges related to a manhunt in the Buford area earlier in the week.

Steven Michael Walden, 29, of Dacula, had been in a traffic stop by the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office on the morning of Monday. Walden was wanted for one misdemeanor count of obstruction and driving on a suspended license in Gwinnett County.

Law enforcement ultimately stopped his vehicle at roughly 11:30 a.m. on East Jones Drive near Ga. 347/Friendship Road in Hall County. Walden resisted arrest and escaped on foot.

Patrol, K9 and warrant units from the Hall County Sheriff’s Office searched for Walden in the same general area into the afternoon hours. Deputies later developed information that a man matching Walden’s description was possibly in the area of Countryside Village of Lake Lanier, on the opposite side of Interstate 985.

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The search moved to the mobile home park where law enforcement found Walden hiding in the laundry room of a residence in the 7000 block of Evergreen Way. Walden was arrested at approximately 3:05 p.m.

Deputies also arrested the resident of the home Walden was hiding in. Jonathan Kyle Liston, 30, of Buford, knew Walden and initially lied to deputies about his presence in the home.

Walden is charged with one felony and two misdemeanor counts of obstruction of an officer. He’s also charged with misdemeanor theft by taking and driving with a suspended license. Walden is being held on $14,200 bond.

Liston is charged with one misdemeanor count of obstruction of an officer. His bond was set at $2,950.

Photos courtesy of Hall County Sheriff's Office