CAMILLA — A Grady County deputy fired his weapon at a driver who was driving toward him after a traffic stop that turned into a chase in the early morning hours Tuesday.
According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, preliminary information indicates that a Grady County Sheriff’s Office deputy attempted a traffic stop on a vehicle for an equipment malfunction in northern Grady County. The driver of the vehicle then accelerated in an attempt to get away. The officer gave chase and the vehicle pursuit continued into Mitchell County in the Branchville Road area.
At one point, both vehicles came to a stop and the deputy exited his vehicle in an attempt to use his Taser on the driver to make an arrest. According to the GBI, the driver then drove towards the deputy and the deputy fired shots at the driver in the vehicle.
The driver of the truck continued to drive and the deputy got back in his vehicle and continued the chase. The driver eventually stopped at the intersection of State Hwy 97 and Mt. Olive Road where deputies from Mitchell and Decatur Counties had arrived to assist.
According to the GBI, officers discovered the driver had been struck by gunfire. The driver was administered first aid at the scene and transported to a local hospital for additional treatment.
No deputies were injured during the incident.
A pistol was recovered at the scene and was also determined by officers to have been stolen from Grady County.
The GBI will conduct an independent investigation. Once completed, it will be turned over to the South Georgia Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for review.
