VALDOSTA. Ga. — The Georgia Bureau of Investigations is investigating the death of a man who died during a confrontation with a Quitman police officer Monday afternoon.
Around noon an officer was flagged down by a passerby at Friendly Mart, also known as Charlie’s, next to Petro gas station on West Screven Street (Highway 84), according to GBI Special Agent Ronny Thompson. When the officer responded to the individual, he was informed that a knife had been spotted on a man who had entered the convenience store.
“When the man, identified by the passerby as the individual with the knife, exited the store, the officer asked him to stop,” Thompson said.
The man walked past the officer, turned around and lifted his shirt, revealing a knife strapped to his waist. After several verbal commands, which were not followed by the individual, the officer used a Taser to subdue him.
The Taser was unsuccessful and the situation led to a physical altercation between the man and the officer.
“During the scuffle, the man became unresponsive,” Thompson said. “He was transported to the Brooks County Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.”
The man, who has been identified as Samuel Baker, 59, of Quitman, died of a heart attack, according to reports. Thompson asserted, when providing details, that Baker was reported to be still responsive after the taser had been used on him.
Because the incident involved an officer, the GBI was contacted around 12:30 p.m. to take over the case. GBI representatives responded to the scene of the incident shortly after the man’s death to collect evidence and speak with witnesses.
Thompson reported several interviews with witnesses were conducted, some until late Monday night. He added that the investigation is ongoing at this time.
Updates will be provided as more information becomes available during the course of the investigation.
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Charlie’s Gas & Grocery on U.S. 84 in Quitman was the scene of a fatal incident.
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Man dies in Brooks
GBI probes death after Taser used
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