GBI Investigates Deadly Confrontation with Emerson Police and Motorist

BARTOW COUNTY, Ga. - A Georgia man is dead after a traffic stop on Interstate 75 turned deadly.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is investigating an officer-involved shooting that started at a traffic stop on Wednesday. The GBI said an Emerson police officer, identified as 24-year-old Robert Smith, pulled a driver over on interstate 75 in Bartow County for a tag violation. A quick check of the driver's history revealed outstanding felony warrants.

The driver has been identified as 27-year-old Brent Andrew Brannon, of Columbus, Georgia. 

Agents said when Officer Smith tried to arrest Brannon he first deployed his Taser. The Taser was ineffective, according to agents and that's when the driver pulled out his gun.

"The officer was attempting to arrest the individual, and the individual was not compliant with the officer, which resulted in the individual pulling up a weapon or pistol on the officer and the officer fired at the individual, shooting him and ultimately killing him," GBI Public Affairs Director Scott Dutton said.

The incident was captured on Officer Smith's dashcam.

An autopsy is scheduled for Friday at the GBI Medical Examiner's Office in Decatur.