Crime & Safety
GBI Still Investigating Shooting of Suspect Who Stole Patrol Car
The Cherokee Sheriff's Office deputy who shot the suspect has been placed on administrative leave with pay pending the outcome of the investigation.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation continues to investigate the case in which a deputy with the Cherokee Sheriff's Office shot a man who allegedly tried to steal his patrol vehicle.
Once the investigation is complete, the GBI will turn the case file over to the local district attorney's office for review, Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit District Attorney Shannon Wallace said on Wednesday.
The deputy, who has been placed on administrative leave with pay, last Tuesday was responding to an unwanted person call he'd received from Cherokee County E-911.
The deputy made contact with Woodstock resident Josiah Farino, 29, at Baxter's Groceries, located at 14865 Highway 92, and the suspect ran. The deputy chased Farino around the store, and Farino jumped into the patrol vehicle and drove away.
The deputy fired upon the vehicle, hitting the suspect with an undisclosed amount of gunshot wounds. Farino eventually came to a stop at the corner of Highway 92 at Neese Road near First Baptist Church of Woodstock where he was apprehended.
Farino was taken to WellStar Kennestone Hospital in Marietta for treatment.
Farino was wanted out of Gwinnett County on a probation violation charge and failure to appear charge from the city of Woodstock. He also had outstanding warrants in Roswell, Alpharetta and Sandy Springs, Lt. Jay Baker with the Cherokee Sheriff's Office said.
Farino remains at the Cherokee County Adult Detention Center with no bond.
He's been charged with failure to appear, two counts of attempting to elude law enforcement, speeding, two counts of reckless driving, driving too fast for conditions, weaving over roadway, improper lane change, no seat belt, hit and run, aggravated assault, theft of a motor vehicle, misdemeanor obstruction of an officer, felony obstruction of an officer and interference with government property.
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