The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has identified a suspect shot by a Cornelia police officer just before 6 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 3, near the intersection of Irvin Street and Level Grove Road.
Christian Drake Shurtleff, 33, of Mt. Airy, was shot and injured during a struggle with the officer, according to GBI, after Shurtleff allegedly wrecked his vehicle into a business on Irvin Street.
Authorities say Shurtleff’s 7-year-old daughter was also in the car and was “safely removed” without injury. The officer, who has not been identified, wasn’t injured during the incident.
Cornelia Fire Department personnel and a Cornelia Police Department officer responded to the location and found an SUV had crashed through the front entrance of Smash It! – a “rage room” recently opened near the downtown area.
Authorities say Shurtleff immediately became “uncooperative and combative” and “began to fight with the officer.”
During the fight, according to GBI, “the officer shot Shurtleff,” who was then taken to the hospital where he was treated for his injuries.
The GBI has charged Shurtleff with felony obstruction of a law enforcement officer, though “there will be additional charges taken out against Shurtleff,” the agency said Monday. The Georgia State Patrol investigated the vehicle accident associated with this investigation.
As a matter of routine, the GBI is asked to conduct independent investigations into officer-involved shootings.
The GBI says it will continue to conduct an independent investigation, and once complete, the case file will be given to the Mountain Judicial Circuit district attorney for review.
This is the second officer-involved shooting in Habersham County in the past two months.
Sheriff’s deputies shot and killed an armed U.S. Army veteran outside Cameron Apartments in Clarkesville on Sept. 7 after authorities were called to the scene for a welfare check.
