Car runs over Bibb County sheriff’s deputy, fleeing suspect

A brief police chase sent a Bibb County sheriff’s deputy and a fleeing suspect to the hospital after a car rolled over both Friday night.

Deputy Craig Lewis and Wallace Lyndell Griffin, 38, of Macon, were both taken to the Medical Center, Navicient Health, according to a Bibb County Sheriff’s Office news release. Lewis, who suffered injuries to his left leg, was treated and released, according to an updated release. He’s reported to be doing well.

Griffin was taken to the hospital with minor injuries and then to the Bibb Count Law Enforcement Center.

Griffin is charged with aggravated assault on a police officer, fleeing/attempting to elude and possession of cocaine, all felonies. He was also charged with misdemeanor obstruction and misdemeanor traffic offenses. He was being held Saturday on a $41,310 bond.

Here’s what happened, according to the release:

At 8:29 p.m. Friday, Lewis attempted a traffic stop on a silver Honda Accord on Peter Street. The driver, later identified as Griffin, refused to stop and a chase ensued.

The chase ended on Fairmont Street near Melrose Street when Griffin slammed on the brakes, got out of the car and made a run for it. Lewis and Deputy Alex Fletcher ran after him. The deputies were attempting take Griffin into custody when two bystanders started yelling that the Honda was not in park.

The Honda rolled over the legs of Lewis, who was on top of Griffin. Fletcher and the bystanders pushed the Honda off Lewis and Griffin, who then fought Fletcher. Arriving deputies helped take Griffin into custody.

Deputies seized two large bags of cocaine from Griffin, the release said. The incident remains under investigation.

Griffin was listed on the GBI Sex Offender Registry for a March 2009 statutory rape conviction.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office at 478-751-7500, or call Macon Regional Crimestoppers at 1-877-68CRIME.

This story was originally published August 25, 2018 at 10:55 AM.