Crime & Safety

Police Officer Grazed by Arrow During SWAT Standoff

Thomas Warren Burt also allegedly threatened his wife with a hatchet and compound bow.

A Snellville-area man holed up in his home after a domestic dispute Wednesday night shot arrows at police, grazing the face of one of the officers.

Gwinnett Police spokesman Cpl. Jake Smith said Thomas Warren Burt, 28, was arrested and charged with several counts of aggravated assault. According to jail records from the Gwinnett County Detention Center, Burt also faces charges of battery, criminal damage to property and terroristic threats.

The incident occurred at 3900 Laurel Tree Court in unincorporated Snellville.

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In an emailed media alert, Smith said officers responded to a call from Burt’s wife at 9:40 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 29, reporting that Burt had attacked her with a hatchet and threatened to shoot her with a bow and arrow.

Burt reportedly refused to come out of the house and made numerous threats against the officers.

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“At about 12:07 AM, Burt fired an arrow at officers from the front door of his home,” Smith wrote. “One officer’s face was grazed by the arrow; he was not seriously injured. The SWAT team was activated.  At about 12:17 AM, Burt fired a second arrow at officers, striking a patrol car.”

Smith said the officer injured did not require further medical treatment.

Burt was persuaded to come out of the house at 12:52 a.m. and was arrested without incident. He was taken to the Gwinnett County Detention Center and was being held without bond.

Smith said a compound bow was taken from the scene. The arrow that grazed the officer was found sticking in a neighbor’s garage door 40 yards away.

The wife was treated by EMS for a hand injury.


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