By Joe Johnson
A Clarke County grand jury has indicted a Madison County man who shot a gun at police officers and then led them on a car chase five months ago.
Walter McGuire, 26, of Colbert was charged with two counts of aggravated assault on a police officer, felony obstruction and eluding law enforcement, theft by receiving stolen property, two counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, reckless driving, and numerous traffic law violations, according to the indictment filed Tuesday in Superior Court.
Athens-Clarke County Police Department and court records show that the incident occurred on May 3 when officers on patrol at Bethel Homes apartments on Hickman Drive noticed that McGuire had a gun and they tried to question him. He reportedly got into a Ford Explorer and shot at the officers before speeding away, and was arrested after a pursuit.
During the chase, McGuire drove with the SUV’s lights turned off, went through red lights and stop signs, and drove into oncoming traffic on Highway 72. He was found in possession of a stolen .38 special revolver.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation because at least one of the police officers had fired their gun during the incident.
McGuire was initially detained without bail, but three weeks after his arrest, Superior Court Judge Eric Norris granted him bail in the amount of $7,500 with the conditions that he continue mental health treatment and take his prescribed medication. The judge also banned McGuire from Athens-Clarke County.
He is scheduled to be arraigned on the indictment November 13.