Cherokee Deputy Injured, Acworth Man Charged In Police Chase

CANTON — A Cherokee County deputy was injured, while an Acworth man was arrested, in a Sunday police chase near Sixes Road, the Cherokee Sheriff's Office said.

Authorities said a deputy saw wanted suspect driving a silver SUV toward Interstate 575 from Sixes Road and notified a state trooper who was on Sixes.

The trooper then tried to stop the SUV, but the suspect fled south on I-575, authorities said. The trooper tried a PIT maneuver, and the SUV's front tire detached from the wheel, authorities said.

The suspect, identified by authorities as Acworth resident Demetrius Xavier Rumph, was accused of then leaving I-575 at Ridgewalk Parkway.

A second deputy parked his patrol vehicle at the end of the entrance ramp at Ridgewalk and exited the vehicle, authorities said.

Rumph was then accused of leaving his moving SUV and running across the bridge. Authorities said the SUV crashed into the deputy's patrol vehicle, causing it to hit the deputy.

The deputy had minor injuries in the crash, authorities said.

Deputies and the trooper chased Rumph and took him into custody, authorities said. Rumph, 35, had active warrants out of Newton and Byron counties, authorities said.

Rumph was charged on suspicion of two counts of obstruction, possession of schedule I narcotic, aggravated assault against a law enforcement officer, attempting to elude police, reckless driving and several other traffic violations. Rumph remains in the Cherokee Adult Detention Center without bond, authorities said.