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HEPHZIBAH, Ga. () – The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office has arrested Tyrone Gaynor Jr. in connection with reports of suspicious behavior at the Diamond Lakes walking track.
Gaynor was brought in for further investigation on Wednesday after being spotted at the Diamond Lakes Regional Park walking track, he was arrested and charged with misdemeanor stalking.
Multiple women say he followed them at an uncomfortable distance while they were walking or running.
Sabrina Sanchez walks at the park at least 3 times a week and says she will now make sure she has her dog, protection or someone with her at all times.
“I made it a point not to come by myself, I made it a point to bring Grace with me as well as other means of protection. It’s daytime, I make it a point not to walk at night by myself, so I just don’t think about it because there’s other people, it’s daytime, I’m not in a quote unquote dangerous area, so sometimes I’ll walk out without thinking about it, but I’ll think about it now.” Sanchez says.
Gaynor was previously arrested in Aiken in August of 2023 and charged with misdemeanor 2nd degree assault and battery, the case is still pending, and he has yet to go to trial.
Rose Arthur, another walker at the park, says she never walks alone and still encourages people to get outside.
“I know that Diamond Lake is safe, it’s a safe place to walk, especially for our senior citizens and anyone that is wanting to better their health, I encourage them to come out and walk and maybe the more people that come we can protect each other.”
Sanchez and Rose both say despite their fear, seeing officers driving around the park helps put them at ease.
Sanchez says, “I do appreciate Richmond County Sheriff’s Department, they’re being really vigilant about being out here, I see them out here more and that’s really good and as they identified and arrested someone who’s suspected, but still, we’ve got to be vigilant.”
The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office is urging anyone who may have been followed, harassed, or has any additional information related to this case to contact the Criminal Investigations Division, send a Facebook message or email them.
