Local

Deputy's Taser malfunctions and armed suspect flees

RIVERDALE, Ga. — A man who drew a gun on a Fayette County sheriff's deputy escaped after the deputy's Taser failed to fire effectively.

The incident happened in a Riverdale neighborhood where the suspect was pursued following a brief chase. Earlier, the driver sped off after being stopped by the deputy.

"The driver ran from the vehicle, and when he ran, the deputy attempted to deploy his Taser. However, the Taser didn't' work. The suspect displayed a firearm while running into the woods," said Lt. Brent Rowan with the Fayette County Sheriff's office.

Rowan told Channel 2's Tom Regan that the incident began in Fayette County and crossed into neighboring Clayton County.

Witnesses in the area reported hearing a gun shot, but Rowan said they are not sure if the suspect fired at the officer, or whether the sound came from the Taser gun.

A resident in the area said it was scary.

"Police had stopped me and said do you know what happened? And I said, I heard you all were looking for somebody. And he said yeah, he's armed, you need to get somewhere safe," resident D'Shayla Taylor said.

They've taken the suspect's car into custody and said it was not reported stolen.