Villa Rica police Friday identified a man suspected of injuring an officer as he fled a Carroll County Wal-Mart Thursday night and records show he has been convicted of more than 20 crimes over the last 19 years.
Officer Micahiah Swain was dispatched to the Wal-Mart around 9 p.m. after a stolen cell phone was tracked to the store, Villa Rica police Capt. Keith Shaddix said.
“It was also suspected that the person with the stolen cell phone was attempting to use stolen credit cards at Wal-Mart,” Shaddix said.
Swain located the suspect, later identified as 37-year-old Clifford Bernard Neal, “and asked for his ID and found that the suspect did not have it on his person,” Shaddix said. “Swain went with the suspect to a black Mercedes SUV for the suspect to retrieve his ID.”
Shaddix said that when they got to the Mercedes, Neal tried to drive away and Swain began struggling with him.
“The suspect began to drive away with Swain inside the vehicle with him and Swain deployed a Taser to stop the suspect,” he said. “The suspect crashed into a parked car and the suspect was able to pull the Taser wires loose. Officer Swain was thrown from the vehicle as it was backing up.”
After being thrown from the vehicle, Swain fired several shots at the SUV as it fled the parking lot.
Shaddix said Swain was treated at a local hospital for injuries to his leg.
“It was also discovered that a witness was possibly struck by a round that ricocheted off the vehicle,” he said. “The witness was also treated at the hospital for an injury to his leg.
The SUV was recovered Friday in Atlanta, Shaddix said.
He said warrants have been issued for Neal on charges that include aggravated assault, battery against a police officer, felony obstruction, giving a false name, hit-and-run and reckless driving.
Neal has been convicted of 22 crimes dating back to 1996, ranging from credit card fraud and forgery to entering vehicles and cocaine possession, according to Georgia Department of Corrections records. He has done five different stints in the state prison system, and was last released from prison in February, 2012.
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