By Joe Johnson
A report of someone shooting a gun on Saturday prompted the Athens-Clarke County Police to dispatch its Strategic Response Team to assist in dealing with the situation.
Members of the SRT are highly trained in special weapons and tactics.
The police department notified the public about the incident by issuing a 5:45 p.m. Nixie alert that there was a "police presence" on South Milledge Avenue between Macon Highway and Riverbend Road.
ACCPD's public information officer on Sunday said he did not immediately have details concerning the event, and could only provided a brief overview.
"Officers responded to the area regarding a subject shooting a pistol," Lt. Jody Thompson said. "When the officers arrived, the subject entered a vehicle and barricaded himself.
"The suspect eventually discarded the weapon but still was not compliant. SRT assisted in removing the suspect. He was treated at a local hospital and taken to jail."
Witnesses to the police response to the incident went on Facebook to post snippets of what they observed.
"Idk and what happened but I saw three women crawl on their hands and knees to the officers and get cuffed," one person posted. "There was still someone in the vehicle that wasn’t cooperating so the police moved in with a shield and a K9. I was directed to leave at that point."
Another person thought that police officers were fired upon: "Not 100% sure of whole story but did hear whoever they were after was armed and started firing at officers."
Someone else posted that police had boxed in a vehicle with their cars and officers deployed tear gas during the incident.