A Macon man is facing multiple charges after he was accused of opening fire on sheriff’s deputies at the end of a Wednesday evening car chase, officials said.
Bibb County deputies returned fire, but no one was injured, according to the GBI. At the request of the sheriff’s office, the GBI is investigating the incident as the 89th officer-involved shooting in the state this year.
The deputies had tried to stop a driver, later identified as 31-year-old Dale Watson, for a traffic violation shortly before 5 p.m. but he sped away, a GBI official said in a news release. After a short pursuit, Watson crashed at the intersection of Coliseum Drive and Emery Highway in front of Piedmont Macon Medical Center, according to the release.
The GBI is investigating an officer involved shooting that happened after police conducted a traffic stop in Bibb Co, GA.
— GA Bureau of Investigation (@GBI_GA) September 22, 2022
The Bibb Co SO asked the GBI to conduct an independent investigation. There was an exchange of gunfire, but no one was injured.
🔗: https://t.co/rTtYlYf2IL pic.twitter.com/b0dJydUJ9t
“Watson got out of his car, pointed a handgun, and shot at the deputies,” GBI agent Jerry Jones said. “Deputies returned fire and chased Watson as he ran away from the crash site. Within moments, deputies captured Watson.”
Watson was evaluated at a hospital before being released to the custody of the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office. He is being detained at the county jail and faces “multiple charges stemming from this incident,” which were not disclosed, according to Jones.
The GBI was expected to hand its case over to the Macon Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for review once completed.
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