Officer injured in scuffle

ATHENS, Ga. --- A police officer was being evaluated at an Athens hospital for injuries Monday night after a woman grabbed his handgun during a scuffle at the same grocery store where another officer was severely stabbed last month.

Athens-Clarke Senior Police Officer Charles Snyder's injuries weren't thought to be serious, police Lt. Mike Tyndell said.

Lt. Tyndell said Officer Snyder, who was off-duty but working in uniform as a store security guard at the Kroger, approached Shakeena Davis shortly before 7 p.m. after someone in the store told him the Athens woman was wanted on felony warrants.

Ms. Davis tried to run away, then struggled with Officer Snyder when he caught her, Lt. Tyndell said.

The woman grabbed Officer Snyder's handgun from its holster, but he was able to disable the magazine so it couldn't be fired as they struggled, Lt. Tyndell said.

The officer was able to get control of the woman after spraying her with pepper spray, Lt. Tyndell said.

Officer Snyder was taken to St. Mary's Hospital for examination.

Ms. Davis was taken to Athens Regional Medical Center for evaluation of possible minor injuries.

She was charged with aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, battery on a law enforcement officer, obstruction and attempting to take possession of a law enforcement officer's weapon.

The confrontation was in the Kroger where Sgt. Courtney Gale was nearly killed Dec. 12 when a man attacked her with a kitchen knife, repeatedly stabbing her until customers and store manager John Mobley intervened.

Sgt. Gale, who also was working as a store security guard in her off hours, remains hospitalized, the extent of her recovery still uncertain.