By Joe Johnson
A man who was wanted by the U.S. Marshals Service was arrested Thursday afternoon when he was located at a homeless camp in Athens.
Tyshun Xavier Billings, 32, was found at the camp off of Old Hull Road by officers who were searching the area in connection with an unrelated report about a man with a gun. That man was not found, but police said they identified Billings at the camp, and when checking for any wants or warrants they found out that he was wanted for failing to appear in court in connection with a December Superior Court indictment on charges of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Police said that Billings ran when officers tried to arrest him, but he was located during a search that involved two K-9 units.
While searching for Billings police said they also discovered that he had a federal warrant from the U.S. Marshals Service for a probation violation from a conviction for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Billings was arrested on the warrants and a new charge of obstruction for having run from the officers.
Court records show that Billings began compiling a felony record at age 18 with a burglary conviction, and numerous arrests for mostly drug crimes followed.
He is being held at the county jail without bail being set for release.