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Deputy Shot While Serving Warrant; Remains in Serious Condition

DEKALB COUNTY, GA – A DeKalb County sheriff’s deputy was in serious condition Sunday night after being shot while serving a warrant, Sheriff Thomas Brown said.

The deputy, Cpl. Gary Freeman, was attempting to serve an arrest warrant on a misdemeanor charge to Joshua Matthew Waller around 7 p.m., Brown said. Waller is accused of simple battery against a neighbor in the Keys Crossing condominiums, off Briarwood Road, Brown said.

Waller, 36, opened the front door holding a gun and shot Freeman in the forearm, Brown said. Another deputy returned fire, striking the suspect in the upper torso. Freeman, a 13-year veteran with the sheriff’s office, was transported to Grady Memorial Hospital, where he was in serious, but stable condition.

Waller then refused to come out of his home and barricaded himself inside for several hours, Brown said. Waller surrendered to police shortly after 11 p.m. when he came out of his home and asked for a cigarette, Channel 2 Actions News reported. He was then put into an ambulance to be transported to a hospital.

The entrances to the condominiums were blocked Sunday evening during the incident, a resident told the AJC.

Mike Bartolacci saw several police cars in the area has he tried to return home around 8 p.m. He watched as officers carrying rifles and other weapons ran through the area.

“It looks like they are searching for somebody," Bartolacci said.

Bartolacci said he was told it would be several hours before he would be able to enter the complex. Other residents were evacuated from their homes.

Waller has previously been arrested three times in DeKalb on drunk driving charges, police said.