"On July 17, 2012 I received a call from GSP Gainesville that someone had rented a boat from Nottely Marina on Nottely Lake and that they had hit something and damaged one of their rental boats.  I responded to the area from Rabun County.  Upon arriving at Nottely Marina I spoke to the owner and she advised me that a subject had rented one of their pontoon boats and called them around 16:00 pm and told them to come and pick them and the boat up because it had broke down.  Then he called and told them to come to the cabin he was renting and pick up their boat because it was broke down and that he was not going to pay them.  Upon inspecting the boat after the marina workers brought it back to the Marina, it appeared that there was some tree bark in the front of the boat and the boat would only go forward even if it was put in reverse.  There didn't appear to be any visual damage to the external part of the propeller and out-drive.  Myself and Union County Deputy went to the cabin where Operator was and interviewed him.  He said that he and his son were fishing in a cove and the boat was drifting close to a tree so he started the boat and went to put it in reverse and it went forward instead and ran up under a tree almost striking his son in front of the boat.  Operator said he called the Marina and asked them to come get them but they didn't have anyone to respond at that time.  He said that he was able to get in the water and push the boat back into the deeper water and drove it back to the cabin they were renting.  He told me no one was injured in the boat and that he didn't want to drive the boat all the way back to the Marina because it was damaged. ,"
BLAIRSVILLE                   