Peachtree City traffic stop turns violent, with man fighting to take taser from officer

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Harvey Johnson. Photo/Fayette County Jail.
Harvey Johnson. Photo/Fayette County Jail.

A Massachusetts man is in custody following a July 16 traffic stop during which he became verbally and physically combative with Peachtree City police, fled the scene on foot and attempted to take a taser from an officer as he was being taken into custody.

Harvey Johnson, 52, of Boston, was charged with simple battery against police, removal of weapon from an officer and two counts of obstruction, according to Fayette County Jail records.

Peachtree City Police Department spokesman Donte Phillips said the incident occurred at approximately 11:30 p.m. on Crosstown Drive when Johnson’s vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation.

Phillips said Johnson immediately exited the vehicle without being asked to do so, with the officer instructing Johnson several times to get back in the vehicle. Johnson continued to refuse and subsequently became verbally combative, said Phillips.

The incident turned physical, with Johnson taking the officer to the ground and with a second officer tasing Johnson, Phillips noted.

Phillips said Johnson continued to resist and was able to flee the scene on foot, running to a nearby hotel. Officers gave chase and, while being taken into custody at the hotel, Johnson again resisted and attempted to take a taser from an officer, police said.

Johnson was transported to the Fayette County Jail.

13 COMMENTS

  1. This story just aired with the video on Fox5 Atlanta TV… Pretty violent confrontation. What the Citizen doesn’t report is that a mother and her 10 year old daughter were in the vehicle. The 10 year old got out of the car, cursed the officers, grabbed the body cam of one officer and smashed it on the ground. She also threw rocks at police. This is what the world is like today. Watch your back!

  2. Oh – It’s one of those ‘LAW ABIDING, MODEL CITIZENS’ who always manage to turn STONE COLD DEAF and FIGHTING MAD when they are in the process of BREAKING THE LAW! Rule For Living Number 16: ‘Those who will not hear or listen must be MADE TO FEEL!’

  3. Once again, just comply with the officers lawful request. Explain it to the judge when you get your day in court. The photo says it all, clearly a fine upstanding citizen. Did a quick little online search on the perp, not his first run-in with the law. Not his fault though, he’s the victim, right?! POS

  4. This is the type of behavior our police must regularly deal with. Defund the police, resist them? I don’t think so. Support them. Hope the officer is ok and that they throw the book at the offender.

        • Yup, he’s just following the way it’s worked for everyone else- that might fly in other parts but not here in our law abiding city where you follow the rules and do as your told. It’s so sad how keeping law and order has become such an opportunity for some people to feel like they have the right AND duty to resist because overwhelming sentiment excuses them from consequences. Thank god I live here where criminals are treated as such. Police just doing their job. What a scumbag – oh wait, he’s a victim let’s put it on social media