Police shoot man in SE Atlanta

By Mashaun D. Simon and Mike Morris

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A young man was shot by Atlanta police Wednesday after fleeing an officer during a traffic stop.

The incident occurred around 4 p.m. in Thomasville Heights in southeast Atlanta.

An Atlanta Police officer was patrolling the area when he saw three males in a white Dodge Neon with a "drive-out tag," said APD spokesman, James Polite.

As the car slowed, one of the males, sitting in the back, jumped from the car and started to run.

"The officer pursued on foot, through the complex," Polite said. "He stopped, turned and brandished a weapon, pointing the automatic handgun at the officer."

The officer also stopped, fired his gun and hit the suspect "in the arm area,” Polite said.

The suspect, Marchelous Pitts, 20, was transported to Grady Memorial Hospital in stable condition. He was later released from Grady and booked into the Fulton County Jail.

Pitts was charged with aggravated assault, felony obstruction, possession of less than 1 ounce of marijuana, theft by receiving stolen property, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

Polite said the gun Pitts pointed at the officer had been stolen.

Police are looking for the Dodge Neon.