Suspected cop shooter held without bond

By Megan Matteucci

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A parolee is back in jail after shooting a DeKalb County officer in the knee and leading police on a massive manhunt, police said.

James Ferrell, 41, was captured shortly before 8 p.m. Thursday -- about eight hours after shooting the officer and fleeing, DeKalb County Police Officer Jason Gagnon said.

On Friday, he was being held without bond on charges of aggravated assault on a police officer, armed robbery, obstruction, according to jail records. He is scheduled to be arraigned Saturday.

The arrest came after dozens of officers combed the area with dogs, in helicopters and on foot. Police received an anonymous tip about his location, Gagnon said. Ferrell surrendered to DeKalb and Atlanta Police officers without incident.

Police launched the manhunt after Ferrell fled from a traffic stop on I-285 north near LaVista Road.

Court records show Ferrell was already wanted for fleeing, fighting police and hiding from his parole officer.

Ferrell was as passenger in a car stopped shortly before noon Thursday. The officer was running a license check when he spotted Ferrell climb out of the car and run, Gagnon said.

The officer chased the passenger and got into a struggle with him. During the struggle the suspect grabbed for the officer's gun, Gagnon said. He was unsuccessful but later produced his own gun, which he used to fire at least one shot. A bullet grazed the officer's knee.

As the officer was recovering, Ferrell carjacked a nearby motorist and drove off in a Ford F-150, Gagnon said. Officers later found that truck at a QuikTrip at I-85 and Chamblee-Tucker Road, but the suspect was nowhere to be found, police said.

The officer, whose name was not released, suffered minor injuries, Gagnon said.

Police say Ferrell, who gave officers a fake name, has a lengthy criminal record.

Ferrell was released on parole in 2000 after serving several years for aggravated assault, armed robbery, drug possession and theft, according to the Georgia Department of Corrections.

In September, Ferrell skipped out on his parole and had a warrant issued for his arrest, according to the State Board of Pardons and Paroles.

DeKalb court records show Ferrell is also wanted on a warrant for failure to appear in court.

That warrant stems from a 2008 arrest where Ferrell was charged with hit and run, fleeing, obstruction and impersonating an officer, according to records. He was released on bond, but failed to return to court in April.

Police took the two other people, who were in the initial traffic stop, into custody and questioned them. They have not been charged, police said.