Man flees police with daughter in car; Fort Oglethorpe officer fires shot at vehicle

James Farris (tight).
James Farris (tight).
photo James Farris.

A Fort Oglethorpe police officer fired one shot at a 22-year-old man after a vehicle chase on Tuesday night, not knowing the man's 4-year-old daughter was in the car.

The shot missed both the man and his daughter, and lodged in the car door.

The incident began around 10:30 p.m. in the 2100 block of Lafayette Road in Fort Oglethorpe when a Officer James Davis attempted to pull James Farris over for a license plate violation.

Farris initially stopped, but when Davis got out of his car, Farris threw his vehicle into reverse, pulled a U-turn and then sped toward the officer, Capt. Gary McConathy said. Farris swerved to try to hit Davis but missed, the officer reported.

Davis gave chase. The vehicle pursuit crossed into Chattanooga on Interstate 24 west and sped past the Ridgecut. Farris lost control of his vehicle and crashed into the center concrete barrier on I-24 near the intersection of Rossville Blvd., at Exit 180.

Davis said he clearly saw Farris reach into his glove box after the crash. He said Farris then got out of the car, reached into his waistband, raised his arms and pointed a "small dark object" at Davis and another officer.

Davis fired one shot. Farris ran, and Davis yelled several times that he had something in his hand.

"I'm 100 percent positive he at least thought he saw a weapon," McConathy said. Police did not find a weapon on Farris or in the nearby area.

Davis started to run after Farris but stopped when he heard the man's daughter crying and screaming in the front seat of the car. He then ran back to the car and discovered the girl.

She was bleeding from cuts all over her body, according to police, and was not wearing a seat belt. The impact of the crash set off the car's airbags. McConathy estimated Farris was driving at about 75 mph when he crashed.

"Nobody knew the daughter was in the car until after the wreck," McConathy said.

He added that the police department's internal affairs division will determine whether Davis violated any policies or procedures when he fired at Farris.

"As of right now, it doesn't appear that there were any policies violated," he said.

Other officers chased Farris down an embankment along the side of the interstate, according to court records.

A Chattanooga police officer pulled up as the foot pursuit was going on and was able to cut Farris off, records show. The officer ordered Farris to get down on the ground, but Farris again put a hand inside his waistband and turned toward the officer, according to police.

"You're going to have to shoot me, I'm not going to jail," Farris said.

The officer again told Farris to get down on the ground. Farris then walked toward the officer with his hand still inside his waistband. The officer fired his Taser at Farris, striking him, and then officers were able to take the man into custody.

Farris told police he ran because he was afraid of his daughter being taken away from him, according to his affidavit. The girl's mother picked the girl up after the crash.

Farris was charged with reckless endangerment, child neglect, aggravated child abuse, evading arrest and resisting arrest and was booked into the Hamilton County Jail. He remained in custody on Thursday.

He also faces charges in Fort Oglethorpe, including aggravated assault, reckless driving, cruelty to children, assault, escape and attempting to elude a police officer.

Contact staff writer Shelly Bradbury at 423-757-6525 or sbradbury@timesfreepress.com with tips or story ideas.

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