CARROLLTON, Ga. — John Cranford, District Attorney on the Coweta Judicial Circuit has released his final report on a fatal deputy-involved shooting from last April in Carrollton.
The GBI was initially called out to investigate the shooting death of 32-year-old Jessie Thedford on April 14, 2018.
Thedford was arrested after deputies came to a home on Little River Road after reports of a disturbance between Thedford and his landlord. According to the DA's report, Thedford went to the Little River Road address to see his pregnant girlfriend. The girlfriend's mother, however, said she feared for her safety.
"The mother of Thedford’s girlfriend then called 911 at approximately 10:41 a.m. because she was afraid Thedford would hurt her family," the DA's report said. "She informed 911 that Thedford was violent, may have a gun in his car, 'was capable of anything,' had threatened to kill her pregnant daughter by the end of the week, and had a case in Douglas County for abusing her daughter."
The landlord came to the address, as well as summoned deputies, at the request of the girlfriend's mother.
According to the District Attorney, Thedford was out on parole at the time and had already been convicted of multiple felonies, including burglary, escape and first-degree forgery.
The DA's report said that Thedford told deputies that he "cannot go to jail," and spent the next few minutes pleading that he not be taken to jail.
When Thedford was searched, a quantity of methamphetamine was found on him.
Thedford's hands were then cuffed behind his back and he was placed in the back of a patrol car. According to the DA's report, Thedford was told he was being arrested "for criminal trespass and everything."
Thedford, however, was able to work his hands from behind his back to in front of him, then wriggle through the partition and into the front seat of the police car.
Getting into the driver's seat, he began to drive toward officers and his landlord.
The GBI says Thedford was told to stop, and when he didn't, a deputy fired multiple shots into the car, hitting Thedford in the arm and torso.
Thedford was transported to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead.
District Attorney Cranford says in his report that he finds that it was reasonable for the deputy to use deadly force to stop Thedford.
"I find that the deputy who fired at and struck Jessie Thedford on April 14, 2018 was reasonable in finding it necessary to use deadly force in defense of others," Cranford's report said.
He goes on to say that he concludes that the deputy did not violate the laws of the state of Georgia, and as such, will not be presenting the case to a civil or criminal grand jury.
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