New Orleans murder suspect arrested in Banks County traffic stop

HOMER - A joint interstate criminal enforcement operation on Interstate 85 in Banks County has yielded the arrest of a Louisiana fugitive.<br /> <br /> Sgt. Carissa McFaddin of the Banks County Sheriff's Office said the arrest came as a result of a traffic stop on Interstate 85.<br /> <br /> "During a joint interstate criminal enforcement operation yesterday, Banks County along with Lowndes County deputies conducted a traffic stop which led to the arrest of a murder suspect," McFaddin said. <br /> <br /> Travis Cochran, 27, of Louisiana, was wanted in New Orleans. <br /> <br /> "U.S. Marshals have been looking for him since 2013 for a murder that was done in Louisiana," McFaddin said. <br /> <br /> Cochran was the passenger in the 2014 Toyota Highlander that was stopped on I-85 north at exit 149, the Banks Crossing exit. <br /> <br /> McFaddin reported Cochran gave a false name and date of birth to deputies several times.<br /> <br /> One of those name and DOB combinations provided to officers by Cochran matched a man wanted on a DeKalb County warrant, so he was arrested on that warrant and taken to the Banks County Law Enforcement Center.<br /> <br /> McFaddin said when Cochran's fingerprints were scanned through Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS), the national system revealed Cochran's real identity. That system also alerted deputies that Cochran was wanted on a possession of marijuana warrant from Gwinnett County Police Department, and on the outstanding New Orleans murder warrant.<br /> <br /> Banks County Sheriff Carlton Speed praised the joint effort, saying working with other agencies helps Banks County deputies advance their experience.<br /> <br /> "The investigative skills of our deputies continue to increase through training and experience, improving the solvability of crimes in our community," Speed said.<br /> <br /> McFaddin echoed the sheriff's comments.<br /> <br /> "Through these joint operations, we're finding that our deputies are advancing through the experience by working alongside other counties and other agencies," McFaddin said. "Just last year alone, our deputies received over 5,000 combined training hours."