TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - The 26-year-old man who was shot after trying to run over a Leon County deputy has been identified.
The Leon County Sheriff's Office says Garrett Peterson, 26, has been hospitalized for his injuries. The deputy, identified as Stephen O'Conner, was uninjured in the incident.
They say that Monday, around 4:07 p.m., Deputy Stephen O'Conner, who was on motorcycle patrol, tried to stop a vehicle on Bull Headley Road.
The driver, Peterson, didn't stop at first but eventually stopped the car in the 1400 block of Manor House Drive. However, Peterson then put his vehicle in reverse and backed into Deputy O'Conner's motorcycle while he was still on it.
That's when Deputy O'Conner fired into Peterson's vehicle, hitting Peterson.
Following a preliminary investigation, Peterson was charged with aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer and fleeing and eluding law enforcement. The investigation is ongoing.
Deputy O'Conner has been employed with the sheriff's office since January 2008.
LCSO says they have asked the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to conduct an independent investigation to determine the facts regarding use of force.
