Across the region

Officer shoots inmate after fight at hospital

ATLANTA - A Fulton County sheriff's deputy shot an inmate who scuffled with another deputy at Grady Memorial Hospital in downtown Atlanta on Tuesday night, authorities said.

The inmate tried to overpower a deputy who was guarding the prisoner during a visit to the hospital and another deputy came in, saw what was happening and shot the inmate, sheriff's spokeswoman Sgt. Nikita Hightower said.

The prisoner, identified as Wesley Mansfield, 21, was admitted to Grady with a gunshot wound and was believed to be in stable condition, she said.

Child is charged with vehicular homicide

COLUMBUS, Ga. - A 9-year-old boy has been charged with second-degree vehicular homicide in the death of his 11-year-old cousin, who died after a go-kart accident.

The boy also has been charged with running a stop sign while driving the go-kart Sunday.

Pierre Collins, who was a passenger in the go-kart, was pronounced brain dead a few hours after the accident. He was removed from life support Monday.

Officials say teacher violated safety rules

AUSTELL, GA. - A firearms instructor who accidentally shot and killed a police trainee at the North Central Georgia Law Enforcement Academy in Cobb County violated safety rules by bringing a loaded gun, officials said.

Tara Drummond, 23, a recruit with the Kennesaw Police Department, died Tuesday after being shot once in the chest, said Cobb County Sheriff Neil Warren, who is leading the investigation into the shooting.

Ammunition is banned from the building, said Sheriff Warren, who refused to release the instructor's name or any initial findings as to why he had the pistol.

Ex-deputy's standoff ends in sex charges

WALHALLA, S.C. - A former Anderson County sheriff's deputy faces sex charges involving two 14-year-old girls.

Charles L. Davis, 34, has been charged with two counts of criminal sexual conduct with a minor in the second degree and one count of a lewd act upon a minor by Oconee County deputies.

Officers went to Mr. Davis' home Wednesday night and there was a standoff, officials said.

Mr. Davis had told officers he was not going to live and he had taken medication, officials said.

Construction worker who fell is identified

CHARLESTON, S.C. - Berkeley County authorities have identified a man who fell to his death earlier this week while working on the roof of a home under construction on Daniel Island.

Taurino Bueso Romero, 38, of Charlotte, N.C., worked for a construction company in Goose Creek, officials said.

Mr. Romero was alone on the roof of the house when he slipped and fell 21 feet Tuesday morning.

Druids get apology for attempted conversion

GREER, S.C. - The city and a Druid couple have reached an agreement after a traffic stop in which the pair said a reserve officer attempted to convert them to his faith, the couple's attorney says.

City officials have written apologies and have shut down the reserve officer program.

Debra Gainey, a minister at Emerald Sanctuary Druidic Church, said Reserve Officer Tony Stewart discussed his religion with her during a June 10 traffic stop and later sent her a letter inviting her "to listen to the words from the Baptists."

Reserve Officer Stewart was cleared of wrongdoing after an investigation, but he can no longer participate in any reserve program if the city restarts one.