2 Polk County police officers injured chasing suspect on Saturday night
Suspect on the run after officers injured in chase
Police agencies across northwest Georgia are on the lookout for a man they say has a violent record. Two Polk County police officers were injured when they were trying to chase down Albert Ware.
POLK COUNTY, Ga. - Two Polk County police officers were seriously injured Saturday night during a vehicle pursuit.
Authorities are now asking for the public's help in locating the suspect.
What we know:
According to the police department, Officer Tre McDonald and Officer John Chandler were pursuing wanted suspect Albert Ladell Ware, also known as A.J. Ware, shortly before 9 p.m. April 12 when they were injured. During the pursuit, officers crashed while navigating a sharp turn, totaling their patrol cars and sending both to the hospital.
Ware has not been captured.
McDonald is currently recovering from his injuries at home and Officer John Chandler suffered severe injuries and has undergone multiple surgeries, including a 10-hour procedure on his hip and additional surgery on his hand. "They did the hip surgery yesterday and that was about 10 hours, and today he was in there for about 3 to 4 hours for his hand," said Polk County Police Chief Kiki Evans.
Officer Tre McDonald was released from the hospital on Sunday but is recovering from a concussion. "He still has a bad concussion, so it will be a little bit before he comes back to work," Evans added.
A.J. Ware. Photo courtesy of Polk County Police Department
Dig deeper:
Police say Ware, who remains on the run, is well-known to authorities and has an extensive criminal record. He currently faces active warrants in Rome, including a domestic violence charge from last month.
"Aggravated assault — he is definitely someone who is wanted, not only in Rome city, but now obviously in Polk County," said Kelly Madden with the Rome Police Department.
The manhunt has prompted widespread support from the community, with residents and fellow officers offering prayers and assistance.
"My phone just continues to ring in support of those two officers," Evans said. "We have a small community here but a strong community where they support local law enforcement and we appreciate that."
Officer Tre McDonald and Officer John Chandler. Photos courtesy of Polk County Police Department
What we don't know:
Authorities are urging anyone with information about Ware’s whereabouts to contact police. "The suspect, A.J. Ware, is still on the run, and we’re searching for him, and we’ll continue to search for him until we catch him," Evans said.
What you can do:
The police department is asking anyone with information about Ware's whereabouts to give them a call at 770-748-7331 or call 911.
What they're saying:
The police department would also like to thank Rockmart Police Department, Cedartown Police Department, Floyd County Police Department and Georgia State Patrol for their assistance during the incident.