FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE…
Tuesday, August 2, 2022 1 a.m.
Deputy Involved Shooting
Sheriff Mitch Ralston Reports:
At approximately 9:30 p.m. Monday night (August 1st), undercover Sheriff’s detectives were conducting an investigation into the illegal distribution of methamphetamine and marijuana near the intersection of Brookline Circle and Dews Pond Road. The undercover deputies met with a pair of men who’d advertised the sale of drugs via social media, and who offered a large quantity of controlled substances to the deputies who posed as drug buyers. A meeting was arranged at a vacant house at the intersection of Brookline Circle / Dews Pond Road and when the undercover deputies arrived, a pair of men met them with the drugs. The undercover officers made the exchange, then identified themselves as deputy sheriffs and attempted to arrest the two men. One suspect, who’d arrived openly carrying a handgun, then produced a shortened (concealable) AK47 type weapon and threatened the officers. The deputies then fired on the suspect who was killed. The second man, still unidentified at the time of this release, fled from the scene on foot. He is described as a black / male, approximately 20 -30 years old, with ‘dreadlocks’ style hair, and last seen wearing a black shirt and black shorts. Deputy sheriffs conducted an intensive search of the area, using K9 units as well, but have not apprehended this second man. The suspect’s weapons were recovered at the scene.
The identification of the man who was killed is being withheld pending notification of his next of kin. However, jail records indicate that this individual had been arrested a number of times in this jurisdiction and at the time of his death was free on a $20,000.00 bond on an Aggravated Assault charge.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) is conducting an investigation into the shooting at the request of the Sheriff’s Office, which is standard procedure under such circumstances. The deputies involved are on administrative leave which is also standard procedure in officer involved shootings.