Driver flees, hits officer

By Pete Skiba (2291)
pete.skiba@albanyherald.com

As of Saturday, February 4, 2012
© Copyright 2013 Albany Herald

ALBANY — Fleeing police, 54-year-old Samuel Wright got into a Mitsubishi Eclipse, hit the first officer on foot at the scene at 2100 block of Juniper Drive at about 3 a.m. Friday and drove off with police in pursuit, stated an Albany Police Department report.

The “suspect took flight in his vehicle and hit officer (Stephen) Smiley. He sped past us on West Oglethorpe Boulevard,” the report added. “He crashed on the 600 block of John W. Williams Road.”

No serious injuries were reported from the incident. Wright was arrested and remains in Dougherty County Jail charged with aggravated assault on an officer, fleeing an officer, reckless driving, failure to pay child support and additional charges, a jail spokeswoman said.

In another case, an officer in a patrol car heard gunshots in the area of 2500 Dawson Road at about 2 a.m. Saturday, the report stated. The officer saw men in a parking lot and caught one, Arthur Lee Wright, 22. A stolen .357 Magnum handgun was found on Wright the report added. He was booked into Dougherty County Jail on theft by receiving stolen property and obstruction of an officer charges, a jail spokeswoman said. No further information on the two cases was available Saturday.