The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has been called in to investigate an officer-involved shooting that took place in Stephens County Tuesday afternoon.
"The early investigation indicates that at 1:17 p.m., a Stephens County deputy attempted a traffic stop on Yearwood Road in Toccoa...on a man driving a Chevrolet Silverado," said Nelly Miles, the GBI's Director for the Office of Public and Governmental Affairs. "The driver of the Chevrolet Silverado refused to stop and a pursuit followed."
The pursuit ended when the driver, who has been identified as Joel Eugene Keller, 36, of Toccoa, wrecked the truck at Broad River Road. Keller then exited the vehicle, and approached the pursuing deputy.
"There was a struggle between the driver and deputy and during this struggle, the deputy’s gun was un-holstered," Miles said. "The deputy and the driver fought over the gun during which the deputy fired one shot, striking the driver."
Miles said Keller was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The GBI said it has taken an arrest warrant for Keller on charges of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer. Additional charges are anticipated.
The deputy was apparently uninjured in the conflict.
The GBI is now conducting an independent investigation into the shooting. Once that has been concluded, the case file will be given to the Mountain Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for review.
Miles said this was the 14th officer-involved shooting the GBI has investigated this year.
