2/28/18 – Bartow County, GA – Man Steals Bartow County Patrol Car After Trying To Disarm Deputy – Attempted To Run Down Deputies – Chase – Suspect Shot Twice – Indicted

www.tribuneledgernews.com

A Mississippi man was indicted by a grand jury in Cherokee County Superior Court earlier this month for allegedly stealing a Bartow County patrol car, leading three agencies on a high-speed chase through Cherokee County and trying to run over police officers trying to stop him.

Lorenzo Leon Taylor, 34, was indicted on Feb. 12 for two counts of aggravated assault on a peace officer, fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, attempted removal of weapon from public official and driving under the influence of drugs, according to court documents.

Prosecutors claim Taylor tried to run over at least two Cherokee deputy sheriffs with a stolen police car, refused to bring the vehicle to a stop while fleeing and attempted to take the firearm of another deputy sheriff who was trying to arrest him.

Taylor was also under the influence of promethazine, codeine, phencyclidine (also known as angel dust) and marijuana while driving, according to his indictment.

A Bartow deputy was called to an Acworth location in reference to a possible vehicle break-in when he encountered Taylor, GBI spokesman Scott Dutton previously told the Tribune. The deputy was interviewing a witness when Taylor jumped into the patrol car and drove off.

“At some point the suspect got into the Bartow County police vehicle and led them on a high-speed chase into Cherokee County,” said Cherokee Sheriff then-spokesman Lt. Jay Baker previously told the Tribune. “The chase involved several agencies, including Cobb Police, the Cherokee Sheriff’s Department and Bartow County.”

The chase ended almost an hour and a half after Taylor initially took the vehicle, when a Cobb officer rammed the police cruiser driven by Taylor near Ga. Highway 92 and Dixie Drive in unincorporated Cherokee County. Taylor was shot twice by police during the pursuit.

“Taylor continued to attempt to flee arrest and drove around some officers and in the direction of others. As a result, Bartow County deputies fired shots at Taylor,” Dutton said. “As officers attempted to take Taylor into custody, he snatched one of the Bartow deputy’s guns away from him.”

Taylor was tackled by officers who used a stun gun to subdue him and retrieve the weapon, Dutton said, adding that no additional shots were fired during the scuffle. He was transported to WellStar Kennestone Hospital in Marietta for treatment of his gunshot wounds.

“Taylor became combative toward medical staff and deputies, at which point a Taser was deployed on Taylor,” Dutton said. “Taylor was sedated by medical personnel and subsequently released to the Bartow County Sheriff’s Office on charges associated with stealing the patrol car.”

One officer sustained minor injuries during the chase.

Investigators discovered a police rifle located in the stolen cruiser, which remained secured following the chase, but evidence shows Taylor attempted to remove it.

According to jail records, Taylor is being held in the Bartow County jail awaiting pre-trial on a $100,000 bond for the crimes he faces in Bartow alone.

Taylor is set to appear before Judge David Cannon for his arraignment in Cherokee County at 9 a.m. March 6 in courtroom 2D, according to court documents.

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