Sergeant struck by car during struggle with suspect
BANKS COUNTY, Ga. (FOX 5 Atlanta) - A Banks County Sheriff’s sergeant is recovering in the hospital after a traffic stop went horribly wrong.
Sergeant Joshua Robertson has broken arms and legs and will require months and months of recovery after he was struck by a car while struggling with a suspect.
It was traffic - narcotics pull over at Steve Reynolds Boulevard and Highway 441 Friday night just before nine.
RELATED: Banks County Deputy faces long road to recovery after being hit by a vehicle
The crucial moments were recorded by a business surveillance system shared with FOX 5 News.
On video a man is seen crouching away from a squad car, escaping from the vehicle after the Sheriff said he managed to get his handcuffs from behind his back to the front.
“At some point, he reached through the window and opened the vehicle door and he fled,” said Sheriff Carlton Speed.
He said officers pursued the suspect, identified as 28-year-old Xavire Johnson onto the highway where they caught him in the median.
Sheriff Speed said the three officers struggled with Johnson after a Taser was ineffective.
He said the struggle spilled onto the roadway where one of them, Sergeant Joshua Robertson, was struck by a car.
“Both arms are broke, both legs are broke, he’s for a collapsed lung, multiple lacerations, his pelvis is fractured,” said Sheriff Speed.
He said Sgt. Robertson has already gone through four surgeries at Piedmont Athens Regional Hospital where another is scheduled for Tuesday.
Matt Dibler, the man who shared the video, is also a music minister at a Stathum Church.
“Prayers with that family and we reach out to you and let you know we are concerned and we look forward to how the healing process will take place,” said Dibler.
In a statement Sgt. Robertson’s family said, “The immediate and continued show of love, compassion, and support has been overwhelmingly moving. Please continue to keep Josh and our family in your thoughts and prayers as we work through his recovery and healing.”
The sheriff said doctors told 39-year-old Sgt. Robertson it’ll be about a year before he could think about returning to work.
“He’s a great officer. He’s been with us for quite some time, does an outstanding job and we want to see he gets the support he needs during this time,” said Sheriff Speed.