Police have recovered two vehicles belonging to a man accused of stabbing an off-duty Atlanta police officer following a hit-and-run crash in Rockdale County last week, but they are still looking for the suspect.
Justin Perry Hurst, 36, remains at large, and the case has been turned over to the U.S. Marshals Service, the Rockdale sheriff’s office said Thursday.
The hit-and-run crash happened at about 6 p.m. Jan. 18 on I-20 near Panola Road in DeKalb County. According to the sheriff’s office, Hurst was behind the wheel of a Dodge Charger in the eastbound lanes and struck a Chevrolet Silverado driven by the off-duty officer, identified by Atlanta police as Tony Black, before leaving the scene.
To get the tag information, the senior patrol officer followed the Charger into Rockdale, where the two drivers stopped in a parking lot on Wall Street near Conyers and started to argue, deputies said.
During the dispute, authorities said Hurst allegedly hit and stabbed Black several times.
Black was stable when he was taken to the hospital and has since been released, according to Atlanta police. Hurst left the scene and was last seen traveling in a white 2019 Volkswagen Passat with Georgia tags, deputies said.
On Thursday evening, officials said they had recovered the Passat and the Charger.
Credit: Rockdale County Sheriff's Office
Credit: Rockdale County Sheriff's Office
According to Channel 2 Action News, Black was on his way to his uncle’s birthday party when the suspect pulled up beside him, accusing Black of cutting him off in traffic before crashing into Black’s front passenger side.
Black was stabbed in the face with a box cutter, had to get several stitches and spent two days in the hospital, Channel 2 reported. The suspect also cut Black’s tires to stop him from following.
“I feel pretty good,” Black told the news station Thursday. “It was just crazy. I didn’t think it was going to go to that point.”
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
A reward of up to $5,000 is being offered by Crime Stoppers for information leading to Hurst’s arrest. He has ties to Alpharetta and is “considered armed and dangerous,” according to deputies.
Anyone with more information about his whereabouts is asked to contact the sheriff’s office at 770-278-8000.
— Please return to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for updates.
About the Author
The Latest
Featured
