Georgia Deputy Killed in Cruiser Wreck

Butts County Deputy Ronnie Eugene Smith was en route to a report of a fight when his car went off Biles Road near Four Points Road and hit two trees.

Dec. 19, 2011

2 min read

A Butts County sheriff's deputy was killed overnight responding to a call, Channel 2 Action News reported. About 10:30 p.m. Saturday, Deputy Ronnie Eugene Smith, 49, was en route to a report of a fight when his car went off Biles Road near Four Points Road and hit two trees.

Smith, who's been with the Sheriff's Department four years, died at the scene, authorities told Channel 2. Sheriff Gene Pope said road conditions in Butts, south of Henry County, were clear at the time of the crash, and the department is investigating the cause of the accident. MARCUS K. GARNER

Hospital patient, 24, accused in shooting

Police have arrested a Dalton hospital patient accused of shooting a man who asked him for a lighter.

Andrew Paul Desimone, 24, left his room at Hamilton Medical Center and went to his car about 5 a.m. Sunday, Dalton police spokes Bruce Frazier said.

While security was looking for Desimone, Kevin Laray Bradford, who was visiting a relative at the hospital, went out to the top level of the hospital parking deck to smoke, police said.

"Apparently, Bradford asked Desimone if he had a lighter," Frazier said. "Desimone pulled a gun from his car and shot [Bradford] in the abdomen."

Desimone then got into his car and drove home, police said.

Bradford, 27, stumbled into a stairwell and collapsed. Hospital security officers found Bradford and took him to the emergency room, Frazier said.

He is in stable condition at the hospital's intensive care unit.

Desimone, meanwhile, arrived at his home and went inside, police said.

Someone called police to alert them he was home, and officers were able to apprehend Desimone without incident.

"At this time, investigators believe this was a random incident and that there was no previous connection between Desimone and Bradford.

Federal regulations prohibit police from saying why Desimone was in the hospital, and Frazier said he has no criminal history in Dalton and wasn't at Hamilton Medical under police protective custody. Desimone is being held at the Whitfield County Jail. MARCUS K. GARNER