Man shot by officer out of hospital, in jail

DALTON, Ga. — Multiple callers to 911 described a man acting erratically Monday morning who the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said was later shot in a hand and a leg after attacking a Dalton police officer and taking control of his Taser and trying to Tase the officer.

David Schmitt, 31, of 4221 Prospect Road in Cohutta, ran toward a caller’s vehicle on Abutment Road near Callahan Road, beat on the side of a truck, “about got hit by a garbage truck,” tried to get in at least two vehicles and asked for a ride to Chicago, according to dispatch records from the Whitfield County 911 center. At one point before an officer arrived, Schmitt jumped in front of a truck and then jumped on the hood, a truck driver said, and another caller said Schmitt “made contact” when he “jumped in front” of an 18-wheeler.

Schmitt was released from Hamilton Medical Center on Tuesday and booked into the Whitfield County jail for aggravated assault against a law enforcement officer, felony obstruction of a law enforcement officer and misdemeanor probation violation. According to GBI Special Agent in Charge Joe Montgomery, other charges could be pending after the completion of the GBI’s investigation.

Schmitt was described by his boss as being “disturbed” about “his family life.” A repair mechanic who had only been working for a week with Ideal Leasing Services Inc., Schmitt clocked in at 8 a.m. on Monday but left shortly after, according to manager Mike Blount.

“He came to work, punched in and then left,” Blount said. “He said he had to get his keys or something.”

Blount called 911 after learning about the shooting and told a dispatcher he wished to speak with authorities. Blount said he hadn’t been contacted by the GBI as of Tuesday afternoon and said he didn’t know much about Schmitt’s past. But Schmitt did talk to Blount and his co-workers about some problems.

“He was disturbed as far as his family life was concerned,” said Blount. “He complained about family life and was agitated and nobody really knows what all was going on. As far as his history, I don’t really know a lot about the gentleman.”

Officers responded to multiple calls about Schmitt’s behavior. One dispatch from 911 to officers indicated that Schmitt was “possibly suicidal.” He was said to be “carrying his shirt in his hand” and his “arm is cut,” and at one point was “down on the ground in a praying position.”

The first officer reported arriving at 8:55 a.m., and a call of “shots fired” was reported less than two minutes later.

According to the GBI, which took over the investigation at the request of the police department, when the officer approached Schmitt, Schmitt attacked the officer, who used his Taser on Schmitt. During the scuffle, Schmitt took the officer’s Taser and tried to use it on him.

Montgomery said the officer was carrying a Taser with two cartridges. The officer was able to use the Taser on Schmitt, and when Schmitt took the Taser away from the officer, he shot at the officer, hitting him with one of the electric prongs. Both prongs of a Taser cartridge must be in contact with the skin for the electrical shock to have an effect.

The name of the officer, who has been placed on paid administrative leave, has not been released, and police department spokesman Bruce Frazier said the department will wait on the completion of the GBI investigation.

“Once they wrap it up, there will be a determination made,” Frazier said. “If he is put back on duty, he will be issued a new weapon and have to re-qualify with that weapon. Per our regulations, he will undergo some counseling as well.”

Montgomery said when the investigation is complete it will be turned over to the District Attorney’s Office for a determination of any criminal charges.

Schmitt is being held at the jail without bond. He had a first court appearance on Tuesday, and the case was referred to Superior Court. Schmitt had not been placed on a court calendar for a bond hearing as of Tuesday afternoon.

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