Officers Patrol To Keep A Lid On Unrest

Officers Patrol To Keep A Lid On Unrest (Added: December 16, 2008)

Richmond County deputies patrol Cherry Tree Crossing in force after a near riot erupted Sunday. Tensions ran high after two Richmond County deputies shot an alleged drug dealer. The Sheriff says he w (more)

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By: WJBF Staff | WJBF-TV
Published: December 16, 2008

(AUGUSTA) – The scene Sunday night in the Cherry Tree Crossing Housing Development was chaotic as sporadic gunfire erupted and some hurled rocks and bottles at deputies after word spread that deputies had shot an alleged drug dealer trying to run during a traffic stop.

An armored vehicle and dozens of state troopers along with Richmond County deputies were in the area Monday but their presence made neighbors angry.

Sunday rumors grew and chaos spread in the community after 23 year-old Justin Leonard Elmore was shot by two Richmond County deputies.

Several fires were set in dumpsters in the community and Sheriff Ronnie Strength says when firefighters showed up to put out the fires, people threw bottles at them.

Strength says deputies stopped Elmore; after they got word he had drugs and weapons in his vehicle. He says there was a patrol car in front and another behind the suspect's car.

Sheriff Ronnie Strength: “The deputy in front of the SUV exited his patrol car and was approaching the SUV when the suspect backed into the patrol car in the rear and then drove forward in the direction of the deputy. The officer fired his weapon in the direction of the suspect's vehicle striking the front windshield and into the front passenger window as the suspect passed next to the deputy.”

The sheriff says two deputies who work in the housing development fired their weapons and both have been assigned to administrative duty.

The sheriff says he doesn't know how many times the officers fired their weapons or how many times Elmore was shot. The sheriff says the officers followed procedure and were justified in the shooting.