Columbus police have identified the officer who hit an armed murder suspect with his patrol car after a chase, according to a report.
Ryan Vardman, a six-year veteran of the department, was pursuing 22-year-old Deonte Marces Giles before the incident, the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer reported.
Giles died of blunt-force trauma, Muscogee County Coroner Buddy Bryan said.
Officers responded Thursday after a man pointed a gun at a woman at a public housing complex, police said. The officer recognized the man as Giles, wanted in connection with a deadly April 1 shooting.
With two police cruisers in pursuit, Giles drove away and eventually drove into a telephone pole and fence, police said. One of the police cars also was damaged in the chase.
Giles allegedly got out of his car and pointed a weapon at an officer. Another armed person got out of Giles’ vehicle, police Chief Ricky Boren said.
Vardman “saw that individual with that gun and ran over the individual that had the weapon to eliminate the threat,” Boren said.
Vardman is on leave while the GBI reviews the case, which is routine protocol.
In other news:
About the Author
