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Bartow County K-9 expected to recover after being shot while chasing suspect

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Published  October 13, 2023 9:34pm EDT
Bartow County
FOX 5 Atlanta

K-9 officer injured tracking kidnapping suspect

Deputies are still looking for the Rome man they say shot and injured a Bartow County K-9 officer Thursday afternoon. Thirty-year-old Geoffrey Frank Walker is still on the run after leading police on a chase by car and foot.

BARTOW COUNTY, Ga. - The K-9 officer that was shot in hot pursuit of a kidnapping suspect in Bartow County on Thursday afternoon is recovering.

K-9 Athos was injured, but is expected to survive.

Deputies were running after 30-year-old Geoffrey Frank Walker of Rome, who was wanted in connection to a family violence incident that occurred Oct. 11 at the Cartersville Walmart on Market Place Boulevard. He was also wanted for another family violence and obstruction incident in Floyd County earlier in the day, according to the sheriff’s office. 

Geoffry Frank Walker

When deputies spotted his car and tried to pull him over, deputies say Walker took off. Witnesses say police rammed into the car, forcing it off the road near a truck stop just off Interstate 75 in Cartersville. Walker then ran from the car.

When K-9 Athos went to catch him, deputies say they heard shots and found Athos injured.

"Athos is doing very well. He’s resting comfortably, of course he’s on pain meds and antibiotics," Holly Cripps, with We Ride to Provide K-9 Memorial, said after checking in with Athos’ handler.

Cripps is part of an organization that provides first aid kits to K9 officers. She has been working with K-9 Athos since 2019. She said Athos' handler used the kit to render aid right away.

She said Athos’ handler used the kit to keep him alive.

"One of the items he picked up right away was vet wrap. Just a simple $3 thing of vet wrap, and he was able to wrap that around the wound and that in turn provides pressure and stops any bleeding and then he was transported very quickly, as you can imagine, to the vet’s office," Cripps explained.

She has over 3,400 kits with K-9 officers across the country, all with sponsors, so they’re able to replenish the kits as soon as they’re used. Cripps said she’ll be bringing more items to Athos in the coming days.

"You know we always hope that they never unzip this bag, but we also are proud and happy that when they need it, it’s there," she explained.