A wanted man started to turn himself in at the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office on Monday, but suddenly had second thoughts.

Aaron Botteicher, charged with probation violation, theft by deception and shoplifting, had come to the lobby of the Gwinnett County jail to turn himself in. While doing so, he changed his mind and ran out the door.

The desk deputy shouted for assistance chasing down the suspect just as Chief Mike Boyd and three other sheriff’s deputies were exiting an elevator. The four men chased down and caught the suspect, who was then taken into custody.

“We hope that the suspect continues his newly formed habit of making wiser choices,” the Sheriff’s Office wrote in a Facebook post.

Botteicher was charged with shoplifting after he took a ring from a Norcross pawn shop and sold it at another pawn shop on the same street. The Gwinnett County Police Department could not find a record of the theft by deception charge, though the sheriff’s office said the theft by deception charge had originated with the police department.

Botteicher is currently being held on $8,650 combined bond — $5,700 for the shoplifting charge and $2,950 for the theft by deception charge.

Like Gwinnett County News on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter and Instagram

About the Author

Keep Reading

Joe Rich had moved to 3935 Paces Manor 2.5 year ago. on Tuesday, Sept. 22,2009, he was trapped at his house with no way out - but a boat. He has been ferrying various things back and forth and is surprised he still has power. Vinings residents were dealing with a major flooding issue Tuesday, as the Chattahoochee River made its way along the banks near Paces Ferry Road.  Many residents with upscale homes were hit hard, some for the second time since an earlier post millennia flooding episode. Since early Monday, seven lives have been taken and several other people remain missing. The record-setting rains also have closed schools and roads and have left people stranded in their homes. The river's level near Vinings was at 27.36 feet before daybreak Tuesday after cresting at 28.1 feet overnight. Flood stage is 14 feet, and anything above 20 feet is considered "major" flooding. (Photo: John Spink, jspink@ajc.com)

Featured

Much of Georgia was under a Level 3 of 5 risk for severe weather on March 31, 2025. The far northern portion of the state was under a Level 2 and 1 risk.

Credit: Channel 2 Action News