Off Duty Bibb Deputy Dressed in Full Honor Guard Attire Helps Arrest Fleeing Suspect
MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – An off duty Bibb County deputy helped arrest a man who was attempting to flee from authorities Monday in Macon.
According to Lt. Sean Defoe with the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office, deputy Clay Williams had just left the Georgia Public Safety Memorial Ceremony in Forsyth, where he’d escorted the grandson of Franklin Leland Williams, who died while serving as a Bibb deputy in 1918.
Deputies had responded to a report of two panhandlers–a male and female–at the Amstar Theater on Zebulon Road.
The male suspect fled from the officers after giving a false name. Deputy Justin Leese chased the suspect through the theater parking lot, through the Wendy’s parking lot and then across Zebulon Road.
Deputy Williams was having a tire repaired at Raffield Tire just off Peake Road, near the scene of the pursuit. Williams joined in the chase, and the suspect jumped into a retention pond, next to the Kohl’s Shopping Center.
Both deputies jumped into the pond and arrested 32-year-old Joseph Timothy Poke of Tifton. Police had an outstanding warrant for probation violation. Deputies charged Poke with panhandling, giving false information and obstruction. At this time, no bond has been set.
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