More charges added to suspected cop shooter

By Megan Matteucci

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

An Atlanta man charged with shooting a DeKalb County police officer during a traffic stop now faces more charges.

James Ferrell, 41, was arraigned Saturday and ordered held in the DeKalb County jail without bond.

Police arrested Ferrell on Thursday on charges of aggravated assault on a police officer, armed robbery and obstruction after he shot an officer during a traffic stop, police said.

On Saturday, officers charged Ferrell with eight additional warrants, including fraud, contempt of court and violating his parole, according to jail records.

Ferrell was captured Thursday night after a nine-hour manhunt.

Police launched the manhunt after Ferrell fled from an officer during a traffic stop on I-285 north near LaVista Road, police spokesman Officer Jason Gagnon said.

The officer was checking the driver’s license when he saw Ferrell -- a passenger in the stopped car -- climb out and run, Gagnon said.

The officer chased Ferrell and got into a struggle with him. During the struggle, Ferrell grabbed for the officer’s gun, Gagnon said.

Moments later, Ferrell pulled out his own gun and fired a shot, which grazed the officer’s knee, police said.

Ferrell then fled, carjacking a nearby motorist and driving off in the stolen Ford F-150, police said.

Ferrell was captured about nine hours later after police received an anonymous tip that he was hiding in an Atlanta home, Gagnon said.

The officer suffered minor injuries, police said.

Court records show Ferrell was on parole at the time of the traffic stop. He was released on parole in 2000 after serving several years at the Carroll County prison for aggravated assault, armed robbery, drug possession and theft, according to the Georgia Department of Corrections. He was convicted in 1989 in DeKalb.

In September, the State Board of Pardons and Paroles issued a warrant for Ferrell’s arrest after he failed to report to his parole officer.

A DeKalb judge also issued warrants for Ferrell after he failed to show up for court hearings for a 2008 arrest, according to court records. During that incident, Ferrell was charged with hit and run, fleeing, obstruction and impersonating an officer.