DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office captures rape suspect who fled courthouse before trial

DECATUR, GA –The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Unit has arrested a man who was out on bond and left the courthouse shortly before his Dec.1, 2025 trial on rape and kidnapping charges was scheduled to begin.

Authorities say Bryan Byers,46, reported to court on Monday, Dec. 1, to face charges related to a July 2017 incident but left prior to the start of the proceedings, prompting the court to issue a warrant for his arrest. Investigators located and arrested Byers of Stone Mountain, Georgia, on Tuesday, Dec. 2, at 11:30 a.m. outside a library on Redan Road in DeKalb County.

Byers was taken into custody without incident and transported to the DeKalb County Jail, where he is being held without bond. He now faces an additional charge of failure to appear for a jury trial.