Georgia Authorities Considered Coates Potentially Violent
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We also have more on the background of the suspect who was killed in the shootout Wednesday.
Police considered 34-year-old John Curtis Coates dangerous even before they stopped him.
WDEF News 12's Mandy Odom has more in our top local story.
Fort Oglethorpe Police Chief David Eubanks says, "This subject's state of mind and the threats that he had made against police officers that were trying to take him to jail or would try to take him to jail, and the fact that he would kill them or himself."
The Walker County Sheriff's office had notified the Fort Olgethorpe Police about John Curtis Coates' situation before the shooting Wednesday.
Last year, Coates had been charged with simple battery against wife and obstruction in Walker County.
Those charges were dismissed, but it didn't stop there.
The victim took out a temporary protective order against him.
Walker County Sheriff Steve Wilson says, "He did not abide by that, and he had been violating that protective order and that resulted in the new charge of aggravated stalking."
Walker County Deputy Terry Miller went looking to arrest Coates on charges of aggravated stalking, harassing telephone calls, and a violation of a temporary protective order.
Deputy Miller found Coates in Fort Olgethorpe and followed him while calling for back up.
Coates stopped at the Chick Fil A, and told Deputy Miller they'd have to kill him before he'd go to jail.
Officer Moore then arrived and the struggle escalated, ending with Coates pulling a gun, shooting Officer Moore, and then Deputy Miller shot Coates.
Sheriff Steve Wilson says, "It's very unfortunate the someone had to die. We're not pleased with that. We're not happy about that, but it was something that had to be done yesterday in order to protect those two officers' lives and potentially the lives of other civilians in that area."
The G-B-I continues to investigate the shooting, but both local law enforcement agencies say the officers reacted by the book.
In Georgia, Mandy Odom, WDEF News 12.
Deputy Miller has been offered counseling, and is doing administrative work for the rest of the week.
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My compliments to Sheriff
My compliments to Sheriff Wilson, Deputy Miller, and Officer Moore, who I wish a speedy and full recovery!