Police say woman fled with child before shooting Richmond County deputy at Charlestown apartments
Correction: An earlier version of this story misspelled a suspect's name and the Richmond County Sheriff's Office gave incorrect information on her criminal history. The person who allegedly shot Deputy John Tarpley on Thursday, May 26, was Ladeeje Harvey who had no pre-existing warrants and was not on parole. The story has been updated.
The officer-involved shooting at a traffic stop Thursday afternoon near a south Augusta apartment complex occurred after one of the passengers fled the vehicle and tried to enter an apartment.
Richmond County Sheriff's Office Deputies Dantavion Jones and John Tarpley stopped a white Chevy Impala with three passengers at Charlestowne South Apartments on Lumpkin Road. Darius Rivera was driving, Ladeeje Harvey sat in the front passenger seat and her five-year-old son sat in the back, according to the Richmond County Sheriff's Office.
At a press conference Friday morning Richmond County Sheriff Richard Roundtree said the deputies reported smelling marijuana coming from the vehicle and asked the driver to step out of the vehicle.
Harvey allegedly jumped out of the car, pulled her son from the back seat and ran to one of the apartments. Deputy Jones chased the woman, who reached the front door and was able to open it. Jones stopped her but her five-year-old son, according to officials, was between the two adults.
Previously reported: Richmond County deputy shot at south Augusta apartment complex
Roundtree said Harvey then pulled a revolver from her purse and shot Deputy Tarpley.
Tarpley was shot in the upper chest, below the shoulder. Both officers were wearing body armor and had body cameras turned on. Tarpley was wounded just above the vest. Jones returned fire, Roundtree said, striking Harvey at least twice in the legs.
Harvey fled from deputies again, but was arrested shortly afterwards at 2722 Margaret Court, not far from the complex, Roundtree said.
Tarpley was partially treated before being transported to Augusta University Medical Center. Rountree said he was released later that night and his prognosis is good. Harvey was also taken to AU where she was treated, released later that night, and booked into the Charles B. Webster Detention Center.
Harvey’s son was treated for some cuts to his knees as a result of broken glass at the scene. He was later released and is being cared for by a relative.
”We’re truly blessed that no one was killed yesterday,” Roundtree said.
Previously, Harvey only had traffic charges and no pre-existing warrants.
Pursuant to the sheriff’s office’s policies, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation has been asked to investigate this incident. Jones is on administrative leave with pay during the investigation while Tarpley is recovering at home. Roundtree said they are providing their deputies with grief resources in order to deal with any mental trauma as a result of this incident as well as physical trauma.
When asked about his initial reaction to the news that a deputy was hurt, the sheriff called it “gut wrenching” and “one of the worst feelings you can have as the leader of an agency” which is why the whole sheriff’s office was relieved to find out the injuries were non-life threatening.
This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: South Augusta deputy shooting: Sheriff Roundtree offers details
