sheriff releases dash cam video of gunfire between deputy, suspect

sheriff releases dash cam video of gunfire between deputy, suspect

Troup Co. sheriff releases dash cam video of... par playboy17220

TROUP COUNTY, Ga — The Troup County Sheriff’s Office releases dash cam video Thursday of this week’s incident that led to a deputy shot and a more than six hour standoff.

The video released to WRBL News 3 shows Deputy Michael Hockett’s patrol car arriving at a locked gate at 51 Jackson Street just before noon Monday. Police say Hockett was called to the residence by a family member concerned for 28-year-old Matthew Edmondson’s mental health.

News Three crime expert, Ricky Holder says 99.9% of welfare checks end up with the person being completely fine, but says there is a lot of unknown as to the type of situation the officer will face.

Deputy Hockett made his way to the home and can be heard walking around the property, knocking and calling out for anyone inside. He met no one. No one was home.

After about nine minutes, a green truck pulls into the video. Edmondson and a female family member have arrived to see Deputy Hockett’s patrol car in front of the gate. The video shows Edmondson striking the vehicle. They drive towards the home and Edmondson comes back with a weapon and fires shots at the car.

Deputy Hockett hears these bangs, and yells out “Sheriff’s Office!” Edmondson grabs his mother and puts her back in the truck and the truck drives behind the house.

“He couldn’t see that,” Holder said. “He doesn’t know whether he’s next or if this is someone across the street shooting and has nothing to do with this. There’s so much unknown in that, and that’s the scary part.”

That’s when a loud bang can suddenly be heard before Hockett’s voice is heard screaming, “No! No!” He screams for someone to “put it down… please don’t shoot” before he comes running back on screen charging towards his patrol car.

The video shows Edmondson following behind, gun out, firing at the deputy. Hockett makes it behind his car, fires shots back at Edmondson, and hits him in the shoulder.

“Everything appears to be justified,” Holder said. “He was already fired upon at one point that you didn’t see on camera. To me, he didn’t fire at this individual at the gate until the individual fired at him. So, everything he did was justified.”

Hockett then leaves the property until backup arrives. Hockett suffered non-life threatening injuries from the confrontation.

As News 3 reported, Edmondson held off law enforcement for several hours until he was finally taken into custody just after 6:30 p.m. that day.

He now faces the following charges:

• Criminal Attempt Murder

• Aggravated Assault on Police Officer with a Deadly Weapon

• Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Crime

• False Imprisonment