Conyers Officer Dragged During Traffic Stop; Driver Arrested After I-20 Pursuit

CONYERS, GA – A routine traffic stop in Conyers escalated into a violent encounter and brief pursuit Wednesday afternoon, leaving a police officer injured and a Covington man facing multiple felony charges.

According to Conyers Police, a Traffic Unit officer stopped a vehicle around 4:17 p.m. on January 1 after noticing a malfunctioning brake light and a tinted tag cover. During the stop, the officer suspected the driver was under the influence and attempted to continue the investigation.

Police say the driver, identified as 55-year-old William Cornelius of Covington, became non-compliant and physically resisted the officer. A taser was deployed, but Cornelius continued to resist and made his way back into the driver’s seat of the vehicle.

As the officer attempted to remove him, Cornelius placed the vehicle in drive, dragging the officer approximately 35 to 40 feet before the officer was able to release his hold.

A description of the vehicle was broadcast, and officers used Flock license plate reader technology to locate it near West Avenue and Interstate 20. Cornelius was pursued for a short distance on I-20 westbound, where officers used a precision immobilization technique to disable the vehicle. He was taken into custody without further incident.

The injured officer was transported to a hospital for treatment and has since been released and is recovering at home. Cornelius was also taken to a local hospital for non-life-threatening injuries sustained during the PIT maneuver.

Cornelius is facing multiple charges, including aggravated assault against a law enforcement officer, felony fleeing and eluding, obstruction, and several traffic-related offenses.