Crime & Safety

Sheriff's Office ID's Man Shot While Stealing Patrol Car

Josiah Farino of Woodstock now faces a slew of charges after he used a Cherokee Sheriff's Office patrol vehicle to flee from a deputy.

The Cherokee Sheriff's Office has released the identity of the man who was shot by a deputy while fleeing in the officer's patrol vehicle. 

Woodstock resident Josiah Farino, 29, remains hospitalized at WellStar Kennestone Hospital with non life threatening injuries after he was shot Tuesday afternoon after he allegedly stole the deputy's patrol car in an attempt to flee, Cherokee Sheriff's Office spokesman Lt. Jay Baker said Wednesday morning. 

The deputy was responding to an unwanted person call he'd received from Cherokee County E-911. The deputy made contact with Farino 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 drive 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, who was wanted out of Gwinnett County on a probation violation charge and failure to appear charge from the city of Woodstock, has now been charged with aggravated assault on a police officer, theft by taking motor vehicle, interference with government property, fleeing and attempting to elude, reckless driving, misdemeanor obstruction and felony obstruction.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is investigating the officer-involved shooting. The deputy has been placed on administrative leave with pay pending the outcome of the investigation, which Baker said could last about a week.


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