Shot fired at Dougherty County Sheriff’s deputies

ALBANY — The Dougherty County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s assistance in locating a suspect who fired a shot at deputies Saturday night.

The suspect, Calvin Bernard Wooden, 27, is considered armed and dangerous, according to Dougherty County Sheriff Kevin Sproul.

“On Saturday, at almost 11 p.m., one of our deputies spotted a subject that had a felony probation warrant and another warrant on him inside of McDonald’s on South Slappey,” said Sproul. “After spotting him, the deputy called for backup and the subject fled McDonald’s across Slappey, eastbound behind the Pizza Quick and the Subway sandwich shop. As our deputies pursued him into a wooded area back there, a shot was fired.”

According to Sproul, deputies took cover and called for assistance from other agencies.

“One of our deputies actually saw the muzzle fire come out of the end of the suspect’s gun,” said Sproul. “We called for backup. Backup responded, but the suspect came out of the woods sometime thereafter and fled across behind Champion Motors. We searched back there, but lost track of the suspect. We have questioned several people. There was a person of interest, a female, that was questioned and released.”

Sproul referenced the number of officers shot in the line of duty this year and reiterated the seriousness of violent crimes.

“This is a felon with a weapon on him, shooting at our deputies,” said Sproul. “We’ve had an officer killed in San Antonio, Texas, this past weekend and a marshal killed in Long County, Georgia. We’ve had two other officers shot, one in Florida and one in Missouri this past weekend. I think we are at 123 or 124 men and women who wear the uniform that have been killed in the line of duty this year. This is a very serious matter, and I am asking the citizens of Dougherty County to help us get this subject off the street as soon as possible.”

According to Sproul, Wooden has been involved in gang activity over the years and has multiple arrests in his past.

“He is armed and dangerous,” said Sproul. “We have questioned family members. We have checked addresses, and that’s why we are asking the public to help us with this to exhaust any lead that we can get on this individual. To have no regard, point a pistol at one of my deputies to shoot him and take his life, is not acceptable nor tolerated. We need him off the streets as fast as possible.”

According to reports, Wooden is a black male, 5-foot-8 tall, and his last know address was 421 Emily Avenue in Albany.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Dougherty County Sheriff’s Office at (229) 431-3259 or Crime Stoppers at (229) 436-TIPS (8477).