An intensive manhunt concluded with the apprehension of a suspect after shots were fired at Carroll County deputies. The Carroll County Sheriff’s Office reported that Brenton Dale Morrison was taken into custody following the exchange where Morrison fled from a stolen truck into the woods off Old Jones Road and Acorn Creek Road and then began shooting at pursuing officers. As documented by FOX 5 Atlanta, there were no injuries reported from the gunfire that ensued during the chase.
During the incident, it is noted that Morrison managed to cause damage to three sheriff's office vehicles, with one deputy's window being knocked out. Uncovering the gravity of the situation, Ashley Hulsey, Carroll County communications director, commented, "We believe he is from the Alabama area, and he is also wanted by the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, for kind of the same things, stolen property, I think he shot at a couple of homeowners over there back in July," illuminating Morrison’s history of criminal conduct and the relief of having him detained, as reported by FOX 5 Atlanta.
Further compounding the toll on the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, this encounter marked the second time within a week that deputies were targeted. Deputy Taylor Bristow was critically injured, suffering a gunshot wound to the head while serving a search warrant just two days prior. He is currently in the ICU at Grady Memorial Hospital fighting for his life. In a statement to Atlanta News First, Hulsey conveyed the rarity and severity of such events in their community, "To be shot at and have somebody also injured earlier this week that’s in such grave condition, that is unheard of around here."
Leveraging assistance from SWAT and the Georgia State Patrol, the sheriff's office was able to bring the search to a close and apprehend Morrison. He reportedly ingested unknown substances prior to his capture and was subsequently taken to Tanner Medical Center in Carrollton for evaluation. Following his stay at the hospital, Morrison will be booked into the Carroll County Jail. The scope of his charges includes aggravated assault, and theft as he was already wanted in Randolph County, Alabama, for similar offenses.
