ATLANTA (AP) - Charges have been upgraded against a man accused of deliberately running his ATV into an Atlanta police officer directing traffic away from a crowd gathered last month to protest police brutality and the death of George Floyd.
In a statement Thursday, Atlanta police spokesman Carlos Campos said Avery Goggans, 42, of Stone Mountain, faces new charges of aggravated assault, aggravated battery and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
Campos said the new charges were filed because Goggans had tried to hit two other officers at different intersections before he rammed into Officer Maximilian Brewer in downtown Atlanta on the night of May 30.
Goggans was initially charged with DUI, reckless driving, possession of marijuana and other traffic offenses including serious injury by vehicle, Campos said.
A preliminary investigation shows Brewer was standing in an intersection to direct traffic away from protesters when a person on a speeding ATV hit him, officials said. Brewer suffered significant injuries to his legs.
Goggans remains in the Fulton County Jail. It’s unclear whether he has an attorney who could comment.
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