Bertram Beck

DALTON, Ga. — A Dalton man who authorities say forced his way into his estranged girlfriend’s residence and shot her twice on Friday was arrested Tuesday night in Cobb County.

Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Paul Woods confirmed that Bertram Gerome Beck was in the Cobb County jail. Bertram faces charges of aggravated assault and home invasion.

Woods said he was still attempting to get details of Beck’s arrest but said the arrest was the result of several leads the sheriff’s office has been following since Heather Renee Griffin was shot in her shoulder and abdomen.

“We were following up on leads and we received several leads and the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office was able to take him into custody,” Woods said. “We greatly appreciate the help of a fellow law enforcement agency. We had gotten several leads from various people in this community about his whereabouts.”

According to information on the website of the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office, Beck was arrested near the South Cobb Drive exit of Interstate 285. Charges were not listed on the website, but Woods said Beck was booked in Cobb County on charges of possession of marijuana and giving false information to a law enforcement officer.

“We will transport him up to Whitfield County in the next 48 to 72 hours,” Woods said. “Once he gets up here, additional charges could come out of it.”

Griffin, 42, is recovering at Erlanger hospital in Chattanooga. Over the weekend, authorities released information saying several people witnessed Beck force his way into a residence at 1025 Prince Way and shoot Griffin.

Beck, 44, had been arrested earlier this year in another domestic incident involving him and Griffin. He was charged with aggravated assault, battery and cruelty to an animal in February and released on a $5,000 bond. That case is still pending in Whitfield County Superior Court.