A man who exchanged gunfire with officers in Coweta County, sparking a massive manhunt on Wednesday, was arrested two days later, officials said.
A Georgia State Patrol K-9 was shot during the initial incident but survived.
Investigators knew exactly who they were looking for the entire time: Ira Troy Williams, 51, had allegedly given a state trooper his driver’s license on Wednesday. By Friday evening, officials announced that Williams had been taken into custody by the State Patrol and the Coweta Sheriff’s Office.
No other details were released about his apprehension in Grantville. The GBI said arrest warrants charging Williams with aggravated assault against a police officer were issued Thursday.
While Williams was on the run, residents in the Grantville area were urged to remain cautious and alert. The Marshals Service said earlier Friday that it was offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information that could help lead them to Williams.
It all started shortly before 2 p.m. Wednesday when a trooper attempted to stop a Chevrolet Cruze on I-85 for a traffic violation, according to the State Patrol and GBI. Williams gave his driver’s license to the trooper but then left the scene, initiating a chase, the GBI said.
“During the chase, Williams fired a weapon several times from his car at troopers and Coweta County deputies who joined the chase,” the GBI said. “The troopers returned gunfire.”
Troopers performed several PIT maneuvers, or precision immobilization techniques, to disable the Chevrolet, the GBI said. When the vehicle chase ended in Grantville, Williams got out of his car and again fired his weapon several times at troopers while running away, according to investigators.
Williams may have been injured during the incident and was considered armed and dangerous while on the run, the GBI said. Other than the K-9, no law enforcement officers were injured.
Grantville Mayor Richard Proctor told Channel 2 Action News that Williams was wanted on a murder charge. No details were released about that prior case.
Additionally, Coweta Sheriff Lenn Wood told Channel 2 that the suspect had an AR-15 after fleeing law enforcement.
During Wednesday’s search, officials urged those near Ga. 29 and Calico Loop to “get inside and lock the doors and report any suspicious activity” shortly after the incident.
K-9 Amor was shot in the leg during the incident. The police dog was taken to Blue Pearl Hospital in Sandy Springs for surgery, officials said. Amor was released from the hospital later Wednesday, the GBI said.
Georgia first lady Marty Kemp asked for prayers for the K-9 in an X post.
“Please join me in praying for this K-9′s swift recovery, and for comfort for his handler and family,” Kemp said.
Last month, K-9 Titan with the Coweta sheriff’s office was shot to death, becoming the first police dog in the state killed in the line of duty this year.
The shooting Wednesday was the 84th involving officers being investigated by the GBI this year. The agency will conduct an independent investigation, and once completed, the case file will be given to the Coweta Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for review.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the GBI regional office in Columbus at 706-565-7888. Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), online, or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app.
