BYRON, Ga. — One man is injured and faces multiple charges including theft after leading Byron Police officers on a chase, according to the GBI.
They say Byron Police officers got a call from the 911 center about a car, stolen from Atlanta, possibly being in Byron.
Officers began checking the area for a Silver 2018 Volkswagen. They found the car at a McDonald's in Byron off Highway 49. No one was in the car when officers found it.
Officers then began looking for the driver. 37-year-old Kory Karpich of Gainesville, GA then left the restaurant and got into the stolen car.
An officer told Karpich to get out of the car but he refused. Then, the officer broke a window to enter the car.
Karpich continued to ignore the officer's commands. The officer used his taser but it was ineffective.
During this time, Karpich started to drive away and ran into the McDonald's and the officer's patrol car.
The officer shot into the moving car multiple times, hitting Karpich.
Karpich then drove away from the scene and was chased by Byron Police officers.
Eventually, Karpich crashed his car in Bibb County and was taken into custody without further incident. He was taken to the hospital in Macon to treat his injuries. He is expected to recover.
Karpich is charged with possession of drug-related objects, possession of methamphetamine, fleeing or alluding a police officer, obstruction and theft by receiving/possessing stolen property.
The GBI will conduct an independent investigation. Once complete, the case file will be given to the Bibb Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for review.