Deputies shoot man holding assault rifle

After responding to a domestic situation on Concord Road, Pike County deputies faced a suspect with an assault rifle in his hands Tuesday night. The suspect ran his vehicle into a patrol car and refused to follow deputies’ instructions. The suspect has been identified as Dakota Caldwell, a white 24-year-old male. The deputies were called out to a domestic situation around 11:21 p.m. and were informed that one individual involved in the dispute had left the scene in his vehicle. It was reported that he was armed with a firearm. Two deputies found the suspect in his vehicle on Turner Road and attempted to make a traffic stop. The suspect was believed to be stopping and as deputies exited their vehicle and approached the suspect, he accelerated and rammed the front of the patrol vehicle, causing extensive damage. The suspect was observed with an assault rifle in his hands and failed to comply with the deputies’ instructions. Due to the imminent threat against them, deputies shot the suspect. He suffered non life-threatening injuries and was taken into custody. EMS personnel transported the suspect to Spalding Regional Hospital for treatment. He was released from the hospital and is currently in the Pike County jail. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation was called to the scene to conduct an independent investigation of the shooting.The suspect is not being identified but faces charges of aggravated assault on law enforcement, interference with government property and possession of a firearm during commission of a crime charges. More charges could be forthcoming as investigators continue to look into the incident.The deputies involved were not injured.UPDATE: The preliminary investigation into the incident has shown the deputies to be completely justified in their actions to defend their safety. The investigation is ongoing. Caldwell was armed with an AR-15 and a semi-automatic handgun at the time of the incident.