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Suspect accused of giving false name to trooper
WARNER ROBINS — A man who was shot by a Georgia State Patrol trooper after a car and foot chase in the driveway of a Warner Robins home July 24 gave police a false name, the GBI says.
Mackey Wiggins, 22, of Warner Robins, identified himself and was initially charged in the incident under the name of Abraham Mocombe, said Craig Rotter, GBI assistant special agent in charge of the Perry office.
Wiggins was using a fake driver’s license, Rotter said.
Authorities believe the false name used is not the result of an identity theft crime but simply a fake name, Rotter said.
Wiggins was taken to The Medical Center of Central Georgia after he was shot once in the side, Rotter said. Authorities confronted him about the false information but he maintained he was Mocombe.
Wiggins was charged with several counts of giving false information, a felony, after he was released from the hospital, Rotter said.
The GBI also has charged Wiggins with forgery in the second degree based on a check found in his wallet.
Wiggins was charged with possession of an uncontrolled substance with intent to resell.
About 40 pills of prescription medication packaged for resale were found on Wiggins, with an estimated street value of $25 to $30 a pill, Rotter said.
Wiggins also was charged by the GBI with obstruction for fleeing, Rotter said. Wiggins also faces several traffic related charges from the GSP including fleeing and attempting to elude and reckless driving.
Wiggins was being held Tuesday in the Houston County jail, where he was booked the evening of July 28, according to jail records.
Meanwhile, the GBI is nearly finished with its investigation into the shooting, with its findings to be turned over to the Houston County District Attorney’s Office for a determination on whether GSP trooper Justin Tabor acted properly in firing upon Wiggins, according to Rotter.
The GBI is investigating the incident per GSP policy when a trooper is involved in a shooting to avoid any appearance of a conflict of interest, according to GSP Cpl. Elbert Slappy.
Wiggins is accused of attempting to avoid a roadblock conducted by sheriff’s deputies and GSP troopers in Houston County, fleeing from authorities, jumping out of the vehicle as it crashed and then fleeing on foot through a residential neighborhood.
Tabor was attempting to arrest Wiggins by issuing commands to get on the ground when Wiggins turned and reached “like he was trying to pull a weapon out of his (pants) pocket,” Rotter previously said. Tabor fired three times, striking Wiggins once, Rotter said.
To contact writer Becky Purser, call 256-9559.
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