Jay Vernon Chastain

Sheriff Jay Chastain was shot and killed at approximately 2:10 am during a traffic stop near the intersection of Highway 2 and Highway 288 in Hiawassee, Georgia. As one of his deputies arrested the driver of the vehicle for DWI and placed him in the cruiser, Sheriff Chastain approached the passenger of the vehicle. The man opened fire with a .38 caliber revolver, striking Sheriff Chastain in the chest. The subject was shot and killed following a standoff with deputies from the Towns County Sheriff's Office and Union County Sheriff's Office. Sheriff Chastain had served with the Towns County Sheriff's Office for six years.

He was survived by his wife and 5-year-old son.