He didn’t kill Gwinnett County police Officer Antwan Toney in October. But Isaiah Pretlow served as the getaway driver for a friend who did.
Tuesday afternoon, Pretlow, 20, pleaded guilty to his crimes and said he hid evidence from investigators because he panicked.
“For the family of Officer Toney and the officers, I’m truly sorry that it did happen,” Pretlow told the court. “I wish it never did happen.”
Credit: WSB-TV WSB-TV
Credit: WSB-TV WSB-TV
Pretlow cried as his mother told the court he was a good person who made bad choices for friends.
“I was scared and never been through anything that traumatized me like that,” he said. “I didn't know how to react to it.”
Pretlow was then sentenced to 50 years, including 28 years behind bars, for his role in Toney’s death plus a previous burglary, Channel 2 Action News reported. Among the charges was aggravated assault against a police officer.
The 30-year-old police officer was killed while responding to a call about a suspicious vehicle near Shiloh Middle School in unincorporated Snellville, according to police. The alleged gunman, Tafahree Maynard, was the subject of an extensive manhunt before he was found hiding two days later. Maynard, 18, was shot and killed after refusing to surrender and pointing a lawn mower blade at officers.
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Toney was just days away from his three-year anniversary on the police force when he was killed. He was the first Gwinnett officer killed in the line of duty since 1993. Hundreds attended the visitation and funeral for the slain officer, a California native.
On Tuesday, Toney’s family was in court, along with several of his fellow officers.
“That day a good officer and really good person was taken,” prosecutor Lisa Jones told the court.
Pretlow was indicted in January and had been held at the Gwinnett jail without bond since his arrest.
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