Man Suspected of Shooting, Critically Injuring North Georgia Officer in Custody

Man Suspected of Shooting, Critically Injuring North Georgia Officer in Custody

McCAYSVILLE, Ga. — A north Georgia police officer is in critical condition after being shot in the line of duty late Friday night.

The officer, Captain Brantley Worley of the McCaysville Police Department, was struck in the throat and airlifted to a Chattanooga hospital. According to officials, he has a broken neck, brain bleeding, and fluid in his lungs.

The suspect, 26-year-old Timothy Craig Ramsey, was arrested Saturday afternoon in a wooded area near Bethel Church Road following a tip from the public. Authorities say he was taken into custody without incident.

Ramsey faces charges of aggravated assault with intent to murder a police officer. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) had issued a Blue Alert, notifying residents in Fannin, Gilmer, and Union counties.

The shooting stemmed from a call about a suspicious vehicle around 11 p.m. Friday on Central Avenue. The gunfire occurred shortly afterward on 1st Street. Multiple agencies, including federal investigators, joined the search.

Neighbors described Ramsey as “aggressive and violent,” with a history of troubling behavior, including allegedly shooting out a neighbor’s windows. Police confirmed they had encountered him in the past.

McCaysville Police Chief Michael Earley asked the community to pray for Worley, who was promoted to captain in July after 15 years of service.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp also issued a statement, urging Georgians to support the officer and law enforcement officers who “face this kind of danger on a regular basis to protect their communities.”