HUNTSVILLE, Alabama — A Marshall County sheriff's deputy's vehicle was struck by another vehicle while he was seated in his patrol unit while assisting a traffic stop at around 5:30 a.m. on December 1.
The Marshall County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) said Deputy Sean Garmany was fortunately not injured in the incident.
Deputy Garmany was assisting a Boaz Police traffic stop in the 1400 block of Highway 431 in Boaz, according to the sheriff's office. An ambulance had been called for the subject of the original stop.
Deputy Garmany had just returned to his patrol unit while waiting for the ambulance to leave the scene when a truck struck the driver's side of the patrol car. MCSO identified the driver of the truck as Macon Henry Shields of Brock Road, Boaz.
Law enforcement determined that Shields was driving under the influence at the time of the incident. The Boaz Police Department charged Shields with DUI. He is currently being held on a $1,000 bond at the Boaz Jail.
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“Any kind of enforcement action while being on the side of the road, whether it’s a traffic stop or assisting a motorist, is very dangerous. If the driver of the truck had hit the deputy’s vehicle in the rear, the outcome of this incident would have been worse. We are glad to say Deputy Garmany or any other officer was not injured in this incident,” said Sheriff Phil Sims.
The case is being investigated by the Boaz Police Department and more charges could be filed at a later date, according to MCSO.