A Hall County man wanted by the Oakwood Police Department for an alleged armed robbery last year was taken into custody by the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office on Sunday, Jan. 27.

Zachary Paul Hayden, 22, was arrested by Forsyth County deputies on drug charges and outstanding warrants out of Hall County after he was allegedly found at a residence off Sydney Harbor Lane.

Cpl. Doug Rainwater of the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office’s communication department said that investigators went to the residence on Sunday afternoon on a reliable tip that Hayden was living at the residence.

When they arrived at the location, Rainwater said that a homeowner told deputies that Hayden was not there but allowed them to enter the residence and begin searching for Hayden, who was later found hiding in an upstairs bathroom with several other individuals.

Hayden was one of two men suspected in an Aug. 9 armed robbery at the Jameson Inn on Thurmon Tanner Parkway in Hall County, according to Oakwood Police Department investigator, Todd Templeton.

Templeton said four people were in a hotel room when they heard a knock at the door.

When one of the men opened the door, he was allegedly assaulted by someone holding a firearm.

“The victim was pistol-whipped and as the assault occurred, the firearm discharged, firing a bullet into the ceiling. Two armed suspects then entered the motel room and proceeded to rob the victims of cash and new clothing items that had just been purchased,” Templeton wrote in an email.

The two suspects then ran away with the stolen property, Templeton said.

Through interviews with the victims and witnesses, investigators identified the two armed suspects as Tristen Cook and Hayden.

Both men were charged with armed robbery and aggravated battery. Cook was additionally charged with aggravated assault and criminal damage to property.

Cook is in Dawson County’s custody on a probation warrant, according to the Dawson County Sheriff’s Office.

Prior to Hayden’s arrest, Rainwater said that deputies found "three large bags of marijuana" in the attic of the Forsyth County home "wrapped as if for sale."

He said that initially, Hayden allegedly gave the deputies false names and dates of birth, but later allegedly admitted to who he was and his wanted status.

Another individual, Jack Simon Morley, 18, of Forsyth County, was arrested at the scene and charged with possession, purchase and manufacture of marijuana and possession of marijuana over an ounce.

The Gainesville Times’ Nick Watson and Dawson County News’ Allie Dean contributed to this report.