Deputies from the Newton County Sheriff’s Office are asking the community for help in locating a man that injured a deputy Friday morning.
According to 1st Lt. Mark Mitchell, deputies in the warrant division received a tip that an individual they had been searching for, 43-year-old Wayne Austin Carmack, had been seen in Mansfield doing remodeling work on a building off Ga. Highway 11.
As the warrant unit approached Carmack, who had misdemeanor warrants out for his arrest, a deputy reportedly got into an altercation with Carmack. The deputy sustained injuries to his arm and Carmack then allegedly fled on foot.
The injured deputy was transported to Newton Medical Center for treatment and NCSO officials set up a perimeter and called for assistance from a K-9 officer and surrounding counties. Between 25-30 officers, not only from NCSO, but from DeKalb, Rockdale and Monroe law enforcement agencies converged on the area in search of Carmack. DeKalb County also allowed the NCSO use of their air unit to help with the search.
As of press time, however, Carmack had yet to be found. What started as misdemeanor warrants have turned into felony warrants for his arrest for aggravated battery and felony obstruction. He is also charged with giving false information.
According to Mitchell, anyone hiding Carmack and assisting him in eluding deputies can also be charged with hindering apprehension.
"We do not take it lightly when a suspect puts their hands on one of our officers," said Mitchell. "So we are using every resource available to us to track Mr. Carmack down and arrest him."