A Chattooga County man was arrested on multiple charges after a traffic stop escalated into a foot chase and the deployment of a Taser. According to the official police report, the incident occurred during a license and safety checkpoint on Northwest Congress Street at Mitchell Avenue, conducted by the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office and the Summerville City Police, along with the Georgia State Patrol.
Morrio Fife, age 43 of Summerville, was stopped at the checkpoint late last week. Officers detected a strong odor of marijuana emanating from Fife’s vehicle as he approached the checkpoint. Upon instructing Fife to pull over for a vehicle search, the suspect allegedly reached towards his waistband. Fearing that Fife was attempting to retrieve a weapon, when deputies and police officers ordered him to stop. Fife reportedly ignored the commands and fled on foot. During the pursuit, a Chattooga County Sheriff’s Deputy deployed his department-issued Taser, striking Fife in the lower back. The Taser deployment resulted in Fife falling to the ground. Even while down, Fife resisted verbal commands to surrender his hands, according to officers.
Following the arrest, officers recovered a brown handbag near Fife. A search of the bag allegedly revealed 27 grams of marijuana, multiple small baggies commonly used for distribution, and a black scale. Fife was taken into custody and transported to the Chattooga County Jail. En route, Fife allegedly made the statement, “I know I messed up back there, can you please work with me with the marijuana?”
Fife is charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of less than an ounce of marijuana, and obstruction of officers and DUI for drugs. The seized marijuana, baggies, and scale have been placed into evidence.
WQZQ
