Johnny Elbert Turner, 24, of 1835 Lees Chapel Road, Cedartown, surrendered to police around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at Waffle House on U.S. Highway 41 near Grassdale Road in Cartersville. He was driving a silver 1997 Kia Rio.
Polk County Sheriff's Office deputies and U.S. Marshals Service agents around 5 p.m. had tried to arrest Turner on aggravated assault and battery charges stemming from a June 8 altercation with his girlfriend, Polk County Sheriff Kelly McLendon said in a press release. Turner allegedly told his girlfriend and family members he would shoot any police officer who tried to arrest him and was not going to jail.
That is exactly what he began to try to do, police say, after officers attempted a traffic stop at Walmart in Cedartown subsequent to locating him at another Cedartown business. The chase continued through Floyd County into Bartow County and Cartersville, where Georgia State Patrol and Bartow County Sheriff's Office deputies joined and tried to use stop sticks, which Turner avoided.
McLendon said in the release that Turner fired the gun at law enforcement officers in Bartow County before throwing it out the window. BCSO deputies recovered the firearm on U.S. 41 near Grassdale Road.
After surrendering, Turner told officer he had ingested methamphetamine and was transported to the hospital. He also is expected to be charged with traffic violations, such as reckless driving and failure to obey traffic control devices.
GSP Cpl. Andrew Gideon said Wednesday morning that troopers with the Cartersville post would make additional charges via warrants since Turner has been apprehended. A list of those charges was not available by press time.
Turner is expected to be incarcerated in Polk County. He was listed in good condition in ICU at Cartersville Medical Center around 5 p.m. Wednesday.
Firefighters report illegal burning
Bartow County firefighters reported Tuesday to BCSO deputies there was illegal burning occurring at a Taylorsville home.
According to the report, the road to the residence and site of a former junkyard had been blocked by vehicles and firefighters could not determine the exact location of the blaze.
The case was forwarded to a county ordinance officer.
Cartersville and Bartow firefighters reported no structure fires in the 24 hours preceding 5 p.m. Wednesday.
Accidents and injuries
Georgia State Patrol troopers reported four accidents with two non-life threatening injuries in the 24 hours preceding 5 p.m. Wednesday.
Cartersville police reported one Tuesday crash. Around 7:35 a.m. on Church Street at North Dixie Ave., the driver of a 1994 Mazda B4000, who said he did not see the motorcycle, failed to yield while turning left, causing a 2007 Harley-Davidson FLHR to wreck.
The motorcyclist had visible injuries but refused medical treatment. The other driver was issued a citation for failure to yield while turning left. The Mazda showed no damage and the motorcycle showed moderate damage.