From staff reports

From staff reports

A Griffin man surrendered to Special Response Team officers at his home early Sunday morning on charges of aggravated assault and battery after attempting to allegedly remove his wife from her vehicle late Saturday night at the Best Western off Highway. 19/41.

Edwin “Buddy” Edwards was taken into custody without incident at his residence at 309 Sweetbriar Lane, after police obtained arrest and search warrants.

Griffin Police officers obtained the warrants after overhearing a telephone call between Edwards and his wife, Christine, after he had rammed her vehicle at the Best Western with his wife still inside the car.

Griffin officers initially responded to the Best Western at 11:18 p.m., on Saturday in reference to the private property collision.

After initiating the investigation, however, Officer Wes Elliott was told by Christine Edwards that her husband had become angry at her for staying with her friends too long.

Traveling to the Best Western, Edwin Edwards allegedly attempted to remove his wife from her car through her window by using her hair and neck. When this was unsuccessful, he returned to his vehicle and proceeded to forcibly ram her vehicle before fleeing the scene.

Christine Edwards called her husband with the officers present and they overheard him threaten to kill her and shoot the officers if they came to his house. When all attempts to reason with him were unsuccessful, Elliott began pursuing search and arrest warrants against Edwards.

Due to the totality of the circumstances which were the felony warrant, the presence of firearms in Edwards’ house, and his threat towards law enforcement, the Special Response Team was activated led by Lt. Darrell Dix,. Upon arrival, negotiators Lt. Mike Richardson and Cpl. Dwayne Hancock attempted to establish communication with Mr. Edwards. He refused to answer the phone, so Sgt. A.Lanier, Cpl. D. Hancock, and Officer Bryan Clanton closed in with the house by driving a police vehicle into the yard to attempt to communicate with the suspect by using the vehicle’s public address system. Eventually Edwards answered the phone and was talked into surrendering by Richardson.

Edwards exited his house and was taken into custody and transported to the Spalding County Jail, where he was awaiting a bond hearing.

“We were fortunate that Cpl. Hancock and Lt. Richardson were able to negotiate Mr. Edwards into surrendering,” said Clanton in a statement. “This was the safest solution for Mr. Edwards, his neighbors, and our officers. The purpose of the Special Response Team is to respond to high-risk situations and generate voluntary compliance. Accomplishing this mission without using force is the most beneficial to the citizens of Griffin.”