A Gainesville man is facing a series of charges after he was involved in an officer-involved shooting Monday in Central Georgia.
According to a press release from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Kory Matyas Karpich, 37, of Gainesville, was charged with possession of drug-related objects, possession of methamphetamine, fleeing or alluding a police officer, obstruction and theft by receiving/possessing stolen property following the incident in Byron, Georgia, near Macon.
The GBI said Byron Police Department Officers received information from the 911 center about a stolen car from the Atlanta area possibly being in Byron. Officers began to check the area for the stolen Silver 2018 Volkswagen Atlas, eventually locating it at a McDonald's in Byron off Highway 49. The car was not occupied at that time.
Karpich then left the restaurant and got into the stolen car. An officer instructed Karpich to get out of the car, but he allegedly refused to follow instructions. The officer then broke a window to enter the car.
Karpich allegedly continued to ignore the officer's commands. The officer used his taser, but it was ineffective.
The release said Karpich started to drive the car, hitting the McDonald's building, as well as the officer's patrol car.
As a result, the officer shot into the moving car multiple times, hitting Karpich.
"Karpich drove away from the scene and Byron PD officers began to chase after him," the release said. "Eventually, Karpich crashed his car in Bibb County, and he was taken into custody without further incident."
Karpich was taken to a medical center in Macon for treatment.
The GBI will conduct an independent investigation. Once complete, the case file will be given to the Bibb Judicial Circuit District Attorney's Office for review.
