ARREST MADE FOLLOWING PURSUIT AND ENDANGERMENT OF OFFICER

PRESS RELEASE

Zachery Stewart Pursuit and Arrest

Date: 8/4/2022

On August 4, 2022, Fulton Police Department Officer Eric Byassee conducted a traffic stop on a 2007 Pontiac G6, suspected of being involved in a hit-and-run collision investigated by the Fulton Police Department.

During the traffic stop, Zachery Stewart presented Officer Byassee with his vehicle registration and then

fled in the vehicle at a high rate of speed down Middle Road. During the ensuing pursuit, Stewart

purposely swerved into Officer Byassee's patrol SUV, causing the SUV to sideswipe the side of Stewart's

vehicle and causing the front tire of the SUV to be torn from the vehicle.

Officer Byassee lost control of his vehicle and traveled through a ditch and into a cornfield. Stewart continued to flee until his vehicle became disabled due to the damage it sustained during the collision with Officer Byassee.

Stewart then fled on foot into a cornfield, where he was apprehended by Fulton County Deputy John Amburg of the Fulton County Sheriff's Office.

Officer Byassee was not injured during the collision, and Stewart was transported to Jackson Purchase Medical Center for a medical evaluation before being transported to the Fulton County Detention Center.

Stewart is charged with first-degree wanton endangerment of a police officer, first and second-degree fleeing or evading police, and no insurance.