A Georgia lawmaker was killed early Thursday when he was struck by a police cruiser while chasing a stolen vehicle across the state line into Alabama, authorities said.
According to the Alabama Sheriff's Office and Lanett Police Department, Coweta County Deputy Sheriff Eric Minikus was arrested on a multi-agency high-speed traffic stop that began in Georgia and continued along Interstate 85 to Chambers County, Alabama. involved in tracking.
Police said Officer Lanett struck Minnix while subduing the suspect.
Minikus was rushed to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead, the sheriff's office said.
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Coweta County Deputy Eric Minnix was killed early Thursday when he was struck by a patrol car while arresting a suspect who led multiple law enforcement agencies on a high-speed chase from Georgia to Alabama. (Coweta County Sheriff's Office)
“We lost a good deputy. We lost a good man and a good friend,” the sheriff's office said in a statement on Facebook.
Minnix was described as a “dedicated” deputy and K-9 officer who was “a friend to all who knew him.” The deputy is survived by his wife and three daughters.
Coweta County Deputy Eric Minkus (center) is pictured with Alex Smith and Radford Brooks in June 2021 as the Sheriff's Office welcomes them to the Patrol Division. (Coweta County Sheriff's Office)
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A suspect, who has not been released, was taken into custody at the scene of the fatal crash. The circumstances that led to the high-speed chase are unclear.
The Alabama Department of Law Enforcement is leading the investigation into the incident.
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The identity of the Lanett police officer who hit Minnix was not immediately identified, but officials said he was placed on administrative leave during the investigation.
