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Woodstock, Cherokee County, Ga. May 29, 2002.
On May 28, 2002 at approximately 10:00 p.m. deputies from the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office responded to a domestic call at an apartment complex near Woodstock High School. The resident of the apartment found Moises Lopez, 18 years of age, allegedly assaulting a female victim. Lopez threatened to kill himself and then fled the apartment. Deputies followed a trail of blood and found Lopez approximately a mile from the scene near Woodstock High School. Lopez was holding a box cutter to his throat making cuts to his neck area. Deputies shot Lopez in the hand with a beanbag round from their shotgun. Lopez is currently in the hospital undergoing evaluation and being treated for multiple cuts. Charges are pending.
The female victim was transported to Kennestone Hospital and is being treated for injuries.
Sheriff Roger Garrison feels strongly in the training of deputies in the use of beanbag rounds. A beanbag round is considered a high impact weapon used to stun a perpetrator. Sheriff Garrison feels a high impact weapon is a perfect alternative in a case where a perpetrator is attempting to harm themselves and deadly force is not justifiable. Many deputies of the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office are shotgun certified so if they are ever placed in a situation where there is a threat that demands a need for force, they are trained and ready to use a shotgun with beanbag rounds as a preventative measure against loss of life.
