Becky Holland
AMERICUS — A car chase that started in the community of Leslie last Tuesday and ended up in the depths of Sumter County in front of a residence, 376 Wiggins Road, involving not only the Leslie City Police, Lee County Sheriff’s K-9 unit and Smithville City Police, but deputies from the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office, is still the talk of the community.
Or at least the shattered back glass and what appeared to be a bullet hole through the back of the passenger side headrest of the vehicle being chased — a blue 1999 Chevrolet Blazer S-10 driven by Ronald George Ware — is one question.
And who fired the gun is the other question.
According to reports, filed by Leslie City Police Officer Cecil R. Mathews and Sumter County Sheriff Deputy, Michael Hale, both involved in the chase, with Hale taking the primary lead car during the last part of the incident, when the vehicle finally stopped, after Ware ran from the scene, the passenger, Johnathan McCarty, stated that ‘someone shot at them during the pursuit’ and the officers noticed that the rear window was ‘busted out of the vehicle and there appeared to be a hole in the passenger front headrest and that the projectile exited the vehicle through the bottom right side of the front windshield McCarty stated that he did call 911 from the car which got answered by Lee County 911.’
Hale commented in his report that the only other people he noticed during the chase were Aaron Cosby. Ricky Crook, and Mark Israel. According to Hale’s report, the three men were at Crook’s residence, unloading equipment from a hog hunting trip.
According to reports, Cosby, Crook and Israel were questioned on the scene regarding the ‘shooting,’ and due to allegations regarding the possibility of a deputy sheriff doing the shooting.
Upon questioning, it was reported that one of three individuals seen by Hale, i.e. Cosby, Crook and Israel, were responsible for the shooting. Sheriff Pete Smith of Sumter County immediately turned the investigation over to the District Attorney’s office for further investigation.
Earlier this past week, reports reached the Times-Recorder that charges were going to be brought against one of the individuals for reckless conduct and discharging of a firearm near a public road way.
On Thursday of this week, via a phone interview, when asked if there had been any word concerning the investigation, Smith said, “I think they’re going to rule it an accidental shooting, and I believe the District Attorney should have a statement tomorrow.”
Plez Hardin , District Attorney for Sumter County, was contacted via telephone on Friday morning. Hardin would not confirm officially what charges would be filed or against who.
He did say that “ I spoke with my investigator yesterday and charges will be filed, but at this time, I would rather not comment on the situation.”
Hardin did promise that “as soon as the filing has been done, a statement will be issued regarding the incident.”
The Times-Recorder will provide more information as details are made available both in print and online at www.americustimesrecorder.com.
