It was 3:39 a.m. in McDonough when a Spectrum work truck plowed into the security gate at the Henry County Superior Court, according to deputies, leaving the barrier collapsed onto a county-owned vehicle. Authorities say no one was hurt in the early Saturday crash on John Frank Ward Boulevard, but county officials report the gate and the vehicle suffered extensive damage.
Deputies later identified the driver as Spectrum employee Pierre Purys and took him into custody. In a statement to FOX 5 Atlanta, the Henry County Sheriff's Office said the McDonough Police Department first alerted deputies to a hit-and-run involving the courthouse gate. Investigators then obtained warrants that led to Purys' arrest on charges including interference with government property and hit-and-run: duty of a driver to stop at or return to the scene of an accident.
Sheriff Reginald B. Scandrett used the incident to underscore how seriously his agency treats courthouse safety, saying, "The security of our courthouse facilities is a responsibility we take seriously."
How deputies say they tracked the driver
According to WSB-TV, the McDonough Police Department was the first to notify the Henry County Sheriff's Office about the damaged security gate. Deputies say investigators then worked with McDonough police and Spectrum during the inquiry, ultimately securing warrants for Purys and taking him into custody. The sheriff's office says the investigation remains active.
Charges and legal context
Purys now faces charges that carry potential criminal penalties under Georgia law. O.C.G.A. 616-7-24, the interference-with-government-property statute, makes destroying or damaging government property a felony punishable by one to five years in prison. O.C.G.A. 640-6-270 requires drivers involved in accidents that cause damage to stop and provide identifying information, and failing to do so can lead to hit-and-run charges.
See the statutes on Justia and Justia.
What officials still have not said
Officials have not released an estimated dollar amount for the damage to the gate or the county vehicle, and authorities have not said what led Purys to drive into the secured gate area, FOX 5 Atlanta reported. The sheriff's office says it will continue its investigation.
Local court security in context
The Henry County Sheriff's Office oversees court operations and security at the county's courthouses, and deputies emphasize that protecting those facilities is a top priority. More on courthouse security is available from the sheriff's office at Henry County Sheriff's Office.
