Canton Man Takes Aim at Cobb Officer

A Canton man is in the tonight after authorities say he tried to strike a police officer with his car.

Around 7:30 this morning, Cobb County Police spokesman Mike Bowman said the officer attempted to stop a white 1994 Honda Civic on Ernest Barrett Parkway in Kennesaw.

Even though the officer was in a marked police motorcycle and activated his blue lights and sirens, the driver—identified as 22-year-old Justin Lee Clark—didn't stop, Bowman said.

That's when a pursuit began. At some point during the pursuit, Clark made a U-turn and accelerated toward the officer's motorcycle, Bowman said.

"The suspect attempted to strike him," he said. "The officer was able to take an evasive maneuver and avoid being struck. The pursuit was called off at that point due to the danger involved."

Another officer in a marked vehicle spotted the Civic, Bowman said, but Clark kept going, ran a red light at the intersection of George Busbee Parkway and Chastain Road, crashed into another vehicle and fled on foot.

He was apprehended a short time later.

Investigators charged Clark with aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, multiple traffic offenses, fleeing and attempting to elude, obstruction, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Jonathan Lee Earwood of Canton and Ashley Caudle of Marietta were charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

"According to investigators," Bowman said, "it was determined that a shot was fired during the pursuit. However, it is believed to have been fired inside the vehicle and was a result of an accidental discharge as the passenger was getting a firearm out of his pants."

The driver whose car was hit when Clark ran a red light was not harmed.