An Augusta man tried to get deputies to shoot him dead late Tuesday but was struck with tasers instead, a move by officers that saved the suspect’s life.
The encounter with 54-year-old Bradley Slater began when officers responded to a domestic dispute at 2249 Bayvale Road about 10:20 p.m. Tuesday, a sheriff’s report says.
Deputy Joshua Bryant and Cpl. Willie Tuggle saw Slater push his wife several times and the officers entered the home. But Slater kept his right hand behind his back and refused to show what he was holding. Slater yelled at the officers to get out of his house.
Deputy Bryant then noticed Slater was holding a kitchen knife and the officer drew his service weapon, ordering the suspect to put down the knife.
“Mr. Slater refused and stated if that if Deputy Bryant did not shoot him, he would kill Deputy Bryant,” the officer’s report says.
Cpl. Tuggle then activated his Taser and the suspect threw the knife down, only to pick it up seconds later. So Cpl. Tuggle stunned Slater with the Taser, but the man kept fighting. So the corporal shot him again with the stun gun and the two officers were able to handcuff him.
While in custody, Slater admitted to the officers that he was trying to commit “suicide by cop.”
He was charged with felony obstruction, terroristic threats & acts, simple battery, and obstructing a 911 call. He was held under no bond at the Richmond County Jail.
Slater has no criminal record in Richmond County, according to a search of court records.