A search for a wanted man led Clayton County authorities to a motel in Bremen on Wednesday morning, setting off a three-hour SWAT standoff that ended in his arrest.
Authorities took David Dwayne Phillips into custody just before 5 a.m. at a Motel 6 off I-20, about 10 miles north of the city of Carrollton. He was then loaded into the back of an ambulance, Channel 2 Action News reported.
Credit: Clayton County Sheriff's Office
Credit: Clayton County Sheriff's Office
Phillips has been wanted since he was mistakenly released from a local hospital following a police chase and crash in October. The chase went through two counties and injured one Lake City and three DeKalb officers, according to the Clayton County sheriff’s office.
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He was supposed to be booked and charged in Clayton County upon his release, but instead, he was let go. He was on the county’s “Most Wanted” list on charges of aggravated assault and criminal intent to commit murder, according to the agency.
Paulding County SWAT was called to assist about 1:30 a.m. Wednesday after Clayton County deputies and U.S. Marshals entered Phillip’s motel room and he fired several shots, Paulding sheriff’s spokesman Sgt. Ashley Henson told AJC.com. About 25 SWAT officers responded and took a position outside the door, trying to coax the man out of the room on his own.
“We negotiated for quite some time and he would not comply,” Henson said.
While they were outside, Henson said officers heard several shots fired in the room. According to the Clayton County sheriff’s office, Phillips shot himself in the abdomen once and another bullet grazed his forehead.
His injuries were not considered life-threatening, authorities said.
Motel guests said they heard at least two shots.
“I woke up to loud noise,” Josh Coleman told Channel 2. “They’re telling the guy to get out and get on the floor. The guy did not want to get out, and I heard two gunshots.”
Eventually, SWAT sent in tear gas, and the man was apprehended at the front door. No officers were injured.
A woman staying at the motel with Phillips was also arrested on another active warrant. She has not been identified.
Phillips was expected to be treated for his injuries before being transported back to Clayton County to face his charges, authorities said.
— Please return to AJC.com for updates.
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