By Joe Johnson
A man who was shot several months ago while assaulting an Athens-Clarke County police officer was recently indicted even as he remained hospitalized.
Salvador Salazar,28, of Summerfield, N.C. was shot by Officer Roger Williams on Oct. 5 while the officer was investigating a reported domestic violence incident at University Garden Apartments on Baxter Drive.
Footage from the Williams' body camera made public by police showed that when Williams encountered the suspect, Salazar ignored the officer’s repeated commands to stop and remove his hands from his pockets.
As the officer followed and Salazar continued to ignore the officer’s commands, he suddenly turned and swung a machete at Williams, who opened fire with his sidearm, striking Salazar three times.
The man was transported to the hospital where he was initially said by police to be in serious condition.
Last week a Clarke County grand jury charged Salazar with aggravated assault on a police officer and possession of a knife in the commission of a felony, according to an indictment filed Feb. 4 in Clarke County Superior Court.
The indictment also accuses Salazar with stalking a female resident of University Garden, apparently explaining the police response to the apartment complex four months ago.
According to Clarke County Chief Deputy Sheriff Jimps Cole, Salazar this week remained in the hospital, under 24-hour guard.
“I understand some more medical procedures are pending with Salazar, causing him to be in multiple facilities for the next few weeks,” Cole said.
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