Georgia Deputy Struck and Killed During Chase

May 5, 2016

Bibb County Sheriff's Deputy Anthony Joseph "T.J." Freeman died in a crash early Thursday morning while he was pursuing a suspicious vehicle.

Source The Macon Telegraph

Investigator Anthony “TJ” Freeman and K-9 Bojar

MACON, Georgia -- A Bibb County deputy died early Thursday as officers were pursuing a suspicious vehicle.

Deputy Anthony Joseph "T.J." Freeman, 29, was pronounced dead at Medical Center, Navicent Health, after the crash at about 3 a.m. on Columbus Road near Buena Vista Drive.

Lt. Randy Gonzalez, a public information officer for the sheriff's office, said Freeman's patrol vehicle was hit on the driver’s side by the suspect's vehicle that came from Buena Vista Drive as Freeman was coming down Columbus Road.

Freeman, a former Macon police officer, transferred to the sheriff's office with consolidation.

He was a K-9 deputy working in the Special Investigations Unit of the Bibb County Sheriff's Office.

Freeman's dog was with him but did not appear to be injured, Gonzalez said.

Deputies first noticed a suspicious vehicle on Eisenhower Parkway near the Serena Wholesale Foods in the Bloomfield Village.

“Because of the recent burglaries and entering autos we’ve had here in the recent weeks, investigators attempted to stop the vehicle and see what was going on,” Gonzalez said.

The driver sped off and investigators pursued, calling for additional units to assist.

The Toyota Camry headed toward town as Freeman and other deputies pursued.

The driver, whose identity was not immediately released, suffered minor injuries and did not want to go to the hospital.

He was taken into custody.

Gonzalez would not speak about pending charges, which are likely to include vehicular homicide in Freeman's death.

It was not immediately known if officers found burglary tools or other evidence in the Camry, which came to rest off Columbus Road near Grosso Avenue.

The impact of the crash sent Freeman's car into the front of a house on the Montpelier side of Columbus Road.

The Georgia State Patrol is investigating the accident and the street remains blocked from Hortman Avenue to Brentwood Avenue. Columbus Road will be closed from Hortman Avenue to Brentwood Avenue until about noon Thursday as troopers investigate the fatal crash.

At about 8 a.m. Thursday, Bibb deputies lowered the flag to half-staff at the Bibb County Law Enforcement Center in Freeman’s honor.

Tribune News Service