he had all intent to, until a potentially deadly weapon was pointed at him from close range, and he decided to use deadly force in defense.
I am not aware of the law in GA, but in NY for instance, a police officer can use deadly force to prevent escape from arrest of a fleeing felon in possession of a firearm or deadly weapon. I have to assume GA law has as much or more teeth than NY, and in GA a taser is defined as a firearm.
That says nothing of the defensive use of force that the officer clearly was engaged in, but speaks to the seriousness that the legislature puts on fleeing a felony arrest, specifically while in possession of a weapon. The officer was right to be in a heightened state, and was correct in administering the use of force he did. He was following the training that every police officer in this country is offered.
he had all intent to, until a potentially deadly weapon was pointed at him from close range, and he decided to use deadly force in defense.
I am not aware of the law in GA, but in NY for instance, a police officer can use deadly force to prevent escape from arrest of a fleeing felon in possession of a firearm or deadly weapon. I have to assume GA law has as much or more teeth than NY, and in GA a taser is defined as a firearm.
That says nothing of the defensive use of force that the officer clearly was engaged in, but speaks to the seriousness that the legislature puts on fleeing a felony arrest, specifically while in possession of a weapon. The officer was right to be in a heightened state, and was correct in administering the use of force he did. He was following the training that every police officer in this country is offered.