Cab fare dispute leads to Cherokee SWAT standoff

By Mike Morris

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Two people were arrested after an overnight SWAT standoff that Cherokee County authorities said stemmed from a dispute over a cab fare.

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Michael Famiglietti

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Ashley Carswell

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The incident began around 10 p.m. when a taxi driver dropped a man and woman off at a home on Seminole Way near Acworth.

The couple argued with the cabbie over a $35 fare, and "the male allegedly went into the home, got a rifle and fired the rifle into the air, then pointed it at the cab driver," Cherokee sheriff's Lt. Jay Baker said.

The sheriff's SWAT team was called to the scene, and after attempting to talk the couple out of the home, shot multiple canisters of pepper spray into the house around 1 a.m. The man and woman came out about 20 minutes later and were taken into custody.

Michael Famiglietti, 49, of Acworth was charged with aggravated assault, terroristic threats, obstruction of an officer, criminal damage to property, pointing a weapon at another and theft of services. He remains in the Cherokee County Jail with a $24,415 bond, Baker said.

Ashley Carswell, 35, of Canton was charged with obstruction of an officer, and remains jailed on a $680 bond.