By Police1 Staff
ATHENS-CLARKE COUNTY, Ga. — A rookie officer in Georgia was fired after body cam footage showed him hitting a fleeing suspect with his patrol vehicle.
Athens-Clarke County Officer Taylor Saulters was fired Saturday after the department said he used excessive force when a fleeing suspect was hit by his patrol vehicle, the New York Times reports. Eppi Rodriguez, a police spokesman, said the Georgia State Patrol is investigating the collision and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation is conducting a criminal investigation.
Police said the incident started Friday when Saulters and Officer Hunter Blackmon were on patrol and spotted Timmy Patmon, who was wanted on a felony warrant stemming from a drug charge. Blackmon pursued Patmon on foot while Sualters tried to get ahead of Patmon with his patrol vehicle.
Saulters’ vehicle hit a curb, flattening the front tire on the driver’s side, during an attempt to block Patmon’s path. Patmon emerged from the right side of the vehicle and moved in front of Saulters’ car when Patmon was hit. Police said Saulters was maneuvering in an attempt to accelerate past Patmon.
Patmon, who sustained scrapes and bruises, was apprehended and taken to a hospital for evaluation. He was charged with felony probation violation and misdemeanor obstruction of a law enforcement officer.
Rodriguez said Saulters was fired for violating department policies and procedures, according to the Athens Banner-Herald.
“This was not the kind of conduct we would expect from an Athens-Clarke County police officer,” Rodriguez said.