SPALDING COUNTY, Ga. — A metro Atlanta deputy is recovering from injuries after being dragged nearly 25 feet by a fleeing vehicle.
According the Spalding County Sheriff's Office, one of their deputies, Marc McIntyre, had pulled over a suspicious vehicle March 15 when everything went wrong.
"At that point, I had no reason to believe anything would be in danger, but it escalated quick," McIntyre told 11Alive in an interview Friday night.
The driver of that suspicious vehicle, 19-year-old Ryan Chase Archer, pulled over at the Zetella Express on Newnan Road, but apparently changed his mind. As Archer allegedly attempted to escape, he took the McIntyre, still partially inside the car, with him.
"It looked like he was reaching for his license in the center console. That's when he threw it into gear and he took off at a high rate of speed out of the parking lot," McIntyre recounted. "My first reaction when he sped off, I was holding onto everything and he took me about 20-25 feet... At that point I disengage from the vehicle. He took off. I called out his direction of travel, car license plate."
Archer got away for a short time with help of a fake name he gave the deputy before taking off. But it wasn't long before investigators became wise to his deception. The license plate also helped them find Archer in the 2500 block of Old Atlanta Road – in a home apparently "full of dope and guns."
Deputies arrested him on charges of aggravated assault of a peace officer, reckless driving and driving without a license. Additional charges related to the drugs are pending as the investigation continues. Authorities said the 19-year-old also had a warrant for an alleged probation violation.
Fortunately, McIntyre only received minor bumps and bruises, and is back on the job. He told 11Alive's Ryan Kruger while he's relieved he nothing worse happened to him, he was more satisfied that the suspect is off the streets.
"I was in the parking lot. The sheriff called over the radio and I said 'Thank you sir'," McIntyre said.
"I love my job. I love my agency."
