Civil rights leader offers escort for man sought in cop hit-and-run

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By Melissa Ruggieri and Chris Joyner

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The leader of a local civil rights organization offered Sunday to escort a suspect wanted in connection with a hit-and-run accident on an Atlanta police officer.

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Investigator Patrick Apoian, a nine-year veteran with the Atlanta Police Department, suffered leg and chest injuries when he was run over July 21, 2011.

Channel 2 Action News file video Investigator Patrick Apoian, a nine-year veteran with the Atlanta Police Department, suffered leg and chest injuries when he was run over July 21, 2011.

Atlanta Police Dept. Khalif Edwards is accused of running over Atlanta police investigator Patrick Apoian with his car.

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The incident happened near the intersection of College and Sisson avenues in northeast Atlanta, Officer John Chafee said.

Erica Byfield , Channel 2 Action News The incident happened near the intersection of College and Sisson avenues in northeast Atlanta, Officer John Chafee said.

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Khalif Edwards, 29, of Decatur, is being sought by police for striking Investigator Patrick Apoian with a car Thursday.

Edwards was not in custody Sunday.

Apoian, a nine-year veteran with the Atlanta Police Department, remained in stable condition with leg and chest injuries at Grady.

“It’s possible this young man will be afraid," said Gerald Rose, CEO and founder of the New Order National Human Rights Organization. "If he decided to run, we are just concerned for his safety right now.”

Rose said he went to the hospital to give his condolences to Apoian, but did not get to see Apoian. He said he wanted to see the arrest of Edwards handled peacefully.

"He is welcome to give me a call and I will take him to the authorities," he said.

Family members have pleaded for Edwards to turn himself in.

Uncle Rick Harris said Edwards is afraid and the family is concerned because there is “a price” on his head. “With the reward on his head it’s like he has a target on his back,” Harris said.

Crime Stoppers Atlanta is offering a $5,000 reward -- $3,000 more than it usually offers -- to the person responsible for Edwards’ arrest and indictment.

“Please, son, turn yourself in so we can work this thing out,” the uncle pleaded.

“I’m afraid for my brother,” sister Tonya Edwards said of her younger sibling. “I just wish that he would just pick up the phone and call me.”

“Please come to us,” said his mother, Nancy Edwards. “We will help you. We will walk you in.”

Edwards and Apoian got into an altercation during questioning, said Atlanta police officer John Chafee.

After hitting Apoian with his car, Edwards drove away. His car was found about two hours later near the intersection of I-20 and Gresham Road.

Fiance Daphene Evans, who was in the car with Edwards and her two children during the altercation with the investigator, warned him that “matters are only going to get worse” if he doesn’t emerge.

“I really don’t want that to happen,” said Evans, who was not charged in the incident.

Edwards faces charges that include aggravated assault, aggravated battery, simple battery, obstruction of a law enforcement officer and cruelty to children, police said. He has a prior arrest record.

Atlanta Police Chief George Turner said Friday that he is confident Edwards will be caught.

“We will get this guy,” Turner told Channel 2 Action News. “So we are, as a police department, going to make sure that we submit all of our resources to put this guy behind bars.”

“It is very likely that that person is still in our city, and we want any person that has knowledge on where this guy is to call our CrimeStoppers, and let’s turn this guy in. Let’s get him off the streets, but clearly he’s a danger to our citizens and the city of Atlanta,” the police chief said.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 404-577-TIPS (8477).