07/17/16 Bartow County, GA – Man Breaking Into Cars Steals Bartow Deputy’s Patrol Car – County Chase – Dozens Of Police Cars Damaged – Crash – SUSPECT SHOT TWICE

July 17, 2016

ajc.com

A man who was shot twice by police faces charges related to stealing a Bartow County deputy’s patrol car, officials said Sunday.

Everything started when deputies responded to a 911 call about a man breaking into cars along Arrington Road in Acworth Saturday night, Georgia Bureau of Investigation spokesman Scott Dutton said.

While a deputy was interviewing Lorenzo Leon Taylor, 32, of Mississippi, a witness came up to the deputy with additional information about a suspect seen entering cars in the area, Dutton said.

That’s when Dutton said Taylor made his move and jumped in the deputy’s cruiser, which had a police rifle inside.

The GBI doesn’t think the witness was involved and he had no connection to Taylor, Dutton said.

Taylor then led law enforcement on a chase through three counties.

After stop sticks in the road failed to stop the driver, patrol cars tried to box in the stolen car, Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Lt. Jay Baker said.

“They had to ram him to get him to stop,” Baker said.

About 8:20 p.m., officers spun out the stolen sheriff’s car at Highway 92 and Dixie Drive in Cherokee County.

Dozens of police vehicles were damaged and deputies fired shots when Taylor drove the stolen car in the direction of other officers, Dutton said.

As officers tried to take Taylor into custody, he snatched one of the Bartow deputy’s guns away from him, Dutton said.

They tackled and Tasered Taylor, eventually getting the deputy’s gun away from him without firing additional shots.

One officer suffered minor injuries during the chase.

Taylor had two gunshot wounds when he was arrested, but taken to a hospital in stable condition. After becoming combative toward medical staff and deputies, Taylor was again stunned with a Taser and then sedated, Dutton said.

Evidence showed Taylor tried unsuccessfully to remove the police rifle from the stolen patrol car, Dutton said. He faces additional charges related to the incident.

The GBI said after its investigation, the Cherokee County District Attorney’s Office will review the case.