Authorities say an assault on a Bryan County Sheriff's Deputy led to the minor injuries of three law officers and arrests of five people April 14.
Bryan County Sheriff's Department investigator Mark Crowe said the incident came as he was assisting other deputies with a call reportedly involving a fight among at least 10 people and guns and knives on Charles Shuman Road near the intersection with Beulah Church Road.
He said he was leaving the area because the argument turned out to be only between two people and there were no knives and guns. But Crowe said that as he was leaving he thought he recognized a man by a ditch with a cell phone and rolled his window down to "cut up" with him.
That allegedly led to a fight between Crowe and the man, whom authorities haven't named. The fight reportedly escalated to include other another deputy and a Pembroke police officer, who used his tazer on the man.
According to interim Pembroke Police Chief Stacy Strickland, officer Cleve White arrived, saw someone on Crowe in the ditch and tased the guy.
"Pembroke responded to help an officer in need," Strickland said.
None of the injured officers were taken to the hospital. The man was taken by ambulance to the hospital, authorities said, but attempts to find out his injuries were unsuccessful. He faces charges, according to police.
The fight reportedly led to the arrest of four others during the incident, including Henrietta Williams, 81, Beulah Church Road, who was charged with misdemeanor obstruction of a law enforcement officer.
Laquana Benjiman, 29, Wade Price Road, Statesboro, is charged with felony terroristic threats and acts; Brian Jamar Williams, 25, Beulah Church Road, is charged with misdemeanor obstruction of a police officer; and, Dwayne Jermaine Williams, 31, Beulah Church Road, charges pending.
Drug arrests
Undercover Pembroke Police and Georgia Bureau of Investigation agents arrested three Pembroke residents April 9 on charges of drugs and contraband.
"Atron Walden, 24, Gerald Haggerty, 22, and George Mincey, 19 were arrested and charged with selling marijuana," GBI Agent Chuck Sullenger said. "Two others arrested were minors."
Sullenger said the GBI, Pembroke Police and the Bryan County Sheriff's Department made the arrests.
Interim Police Chief Strickland said the GBI has been helping the department with several cases, including four major cases. Undercover GBI agents entered the area after receiving information about drug sales in Pembroke.
"We believe these cases are tied to other open cases," Strickland said, "and we hope these arrests will lead to additional arrests in the ongoing investigations."
Two warrants have been issued for additional suspects who have not yet been found, according to Strickland.
