COLLEGE PARK, Ga. — A police officer run over by teens in a stolen car says he thought about using deadly force but couldn’t bear the thought of taking a child from his mother.
Police told Channel 2′s Tom Jones that the officer had every right to use deadly force.
College Park Police said Officer Ivory Morris’ life was in danger and he had every right to end the threat — but he didn’t.
Morris is currently at Grady Memorial Hospital, recovering.
He told Jones that he thought the teen was going to run over him a second time.
“I was looking in that kid[’s] eyes. I was like, ‘I don’t want to hurt this kid.’ I didn’t want to take nobody’s kid away from them,” Morris said.
TRENDING STORIES:
- Secoriea Turner: Attorneys file lawsuit against city, Wendy’s in death of 8-year-old girl
- Police searching for man they said stabbed woman walking with daughter along Brookhaven greenway
- Atlanta City Council asks police chief to present crime plan
Morris said he was working a part-time job around 1:30 a.m. Saturday when he kept getting alerts from Flock cameras in the area about a stolen Nissan Rogue.
“I said, ‘If it comes back to College Park,’ I said, ‘We on it,’” Morris said.
The silver SUV arrived at the Hilton Garden Inn on Sullivan Road. Morris said he got there soon after when the stolen car began to drive off. That’s when he noticed a 15-year-old boy.
“He was walking away from the car,” Morris said.
That’s when Morris said he grabbed the teen. The stolen car then returned and got close to the teen and Morris.
Police said the teen jumped on the hood of the car with Morris still holding him. That’s when the teen screamed for the driver to go.
“When I was on top of that car, I had my other hand free to reach for the gun. But I said,
‘I don’t want to. I don’t want to pull it.’”
Police said the 17-year-old driver jerked the wheel of the car, causing Morris and the 15-year-old to fall to the ground.
That’s when Morris said the driver intentionally ran over both of them and sped off.
The 15-year-old suffered severe injuries.
Police said Morris had every right to use deadly force. Morris told Jones he didn’t see it that way.
“I was thinking, ‘These are somebody’s kids,’” Morris said.
This browser does not support the video element.