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Ga. man threatens firefighters, rams fire engine during EMS call

Police say the man threatened to shoot Cobb County firefighters who were working a medical emergency, then backed his car into their rig

By Lucinda Warnke | lwarnke@mdjonline.com
Marietta Daily Journal

COBB COUNTY, Ga. — Acworth police arrested a man Saturday morning after he allegedly threatened to kill firefighters and rammed his car into a fire truck at a Bojangles at the corner of Cherokee Street and Lake Acworth Drive.

The man, 26-year-old Tyler Washington, was angry because firefighters blocked his car while parking at the restaurant to respond to a medical emergency, according to a police report.

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Witnesses inside the restaurant said Washington had already gotten his food when he saw the fire truck pull up, according to a police report. A witness standing near him when the fire truck arrived said he ran outside to confront the fire crew.

He allegedly approached firefighters as they were heading into the building and threatened them if they didn’t move the truck. Firefighters told Washington that they would move the truck once they attended to the emergency but Washington continued yelling.

One of the firefighters said in the police report that Washington kept yelling at the fire crew as they went into the restaurant and checked on the person having the medical emergency, prompting them to call the police.

After yelling at the firefighters, Washington allegedly exited the Bojangles and reversed his car into the parked fire truck. A witness who watched the scene from inside the restaurant told police that it looked like Washington backed into the fire truck intentionally.

After his car hit the truck, Washington yelled at the firefighters again and threatened to shoot them and “f—k them up,” according to the police report.

The police report said the fire truck sustained damage around the wheel well while Washington’s car sustained damage to the bumper and left taillight.

Washington was arrested and charged with obstructing firefighters, interference with government property, aggressive driving and disorderly conduct.

Authorities also discovered he had an active warrant out of Harris County in Texas for making terroristic threats.

He was released Saturday night on a $6,000 bond from the Cobb County Adult Detention Center.

Departments must remain vigilant and proactive in addressing the potential for violence on scene
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