A man accused of stabbing an off-duty Atlanta police officer in a parking lot during a suspected road rage dispute turned himself in to Rockdale County authorities Tuesday.
The sheriff’s office announced that 36-year-old Justin Perry Hurst had surrendered to deputies. Hurst was booked into the Rockdale jail on multiple counts, including aggravated assault and aggravated battery, online records show. He is accused of stabbing APD Officer Tony Black in the face with a boxcutter on Jan. 18, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution previously reported.
The initial incident took place on I-20 near Panola Road in DeKalb County around 6 p.m., the Rockdale sheriff’s office said at the time. Hurst is accused of running his Dodge Charger into Black’s Chevrolet Silverado before driving away. Black followed Hurst to get his tag number until the two stopped in a parking lot near Conyers, the sheriff’s office said.
The men began to argue outside of their cars and the dispute escalated until Hurst allegedly stabbed Black. Hurst also slashed Black’s tires to prevent him from following, Black told Channel 2 Action News.
Black was considered stable after the stabbing but spent two days in the hospital and received stitches for his wounds, Channel 2 reported.
Less than a week after the incident, officials said they had recovered the Charger and a white Volkswagen Passat that Hurst was also seen driving. However, Hurst remained at large and Rockdale authorities requested assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service.
Hurst is being held without bond on counts of aggravated assault, aggravated battery, armed robbery and second-degree criminal damage to property.
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