Fayette Traffic Stop Leads to Shooting

FAYETTE COUNTY, Ga. - The Fayette County Sheriff's Office says it is investigating an alleged assault on one of their deputies during a traffic stop Monday.

Around 9:30 pm Monday, a Fayette deputy stopped a car for an equipment violation on County Line Road in east Fayette County, says the Fayette County Sheriff's Office.

As the deputy approached the vehicle he smelled what he suspected was marijuana. The vehicle was occupied by a male driver along with a second male who was sitting in the passenger seat. The deputy requested assistance to assist him with the traffic stop, say authorities.

Authorities say when the second deputy arrived the driver was asked to exit the vehicle where they moved out of the roadway near the passenger side of the vehicle away from traffic.

While the deputies were speaking to the driver about the suspected odor of marijuana coming
from inside, the passenger jumped into the driver's seat of the vehicle in an attempt to flee the
scene. The second deputy partially entered the vehicle in an attempt to prevent the
passenger from leaving the scene. A brief struggle ensued before the passenger was able to put
the suspect vehicle into gear and began to drive away; ignoring commands to stop, say police.

The second deputy who was partially in the vehicle was being dragged and nearly pulled undeeath the suspect's vehicle. The driver continued to flee and the deputy fired his weapon at the fleeing passenger in an attempt to stop the force being used against him. The deputy was thrown from the fleeing vehicle, receiving non-life threatening injuries, and was transported to Piedmont Fayette Hospital, say authorities.

Police say the passenger fled the scene in the vehicle and was located a short time later at a residence in Clayton County. The passenger was injured by a gunshot wound to his body and was transported to Atlanta Medical Center. His condition is not known.

Criminal charges against the passenger are pending, say police.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigations has been asked to investigate the incident.