CAMDEN COUNTY, Ga. – Newly released bodycam footage from the Camden County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) gives a closer look at the events that led to the arrest of a man now facing felony charges.
Camden County patrol deputy Christopher Hanley was parked on the side of southbound lanes of Interstate 95 early Wednesday morning when he spotted a speeding car with only one working headlight doing 117 mph in a 70 mph zone.
Hanley immediately jumped into action turning on his emergency lights to follow after the vehicle. The driver, 24-year-old Shum Popal, of Pennsylvania, hits the speed, initiating a chase between the two.
Two minutes into the ongoing chase, Popal’s car and Hanley’s patrol cruiser fly past Deputy Joseph Sheets, who already had his emergency lights on while driving in the far-right lane on the interstate.
As both deputies are pursuing Popal, the video shows him sticking his hand out of the car window while holding a gun. Then, shots are fired. According to investigators, during the chase, the Popal fired multiple shots at both deputies.
Nearly five minutes into the video, Hanley performs a pit maneuver when the lanes are clear from traffic to get Popal to stop. Popal’s car spins out of control.
Then, you can see, Sheets, Hanley and other deputies who joined the pursuit approach Popal’s vehicle with their guns out.
Moments later, Popel was arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Popel faces felony fleeing charges as well. He was also hit with multiple drug charges after deputies said they found drugs in his car.
In these cases, it’s common for deputies to experience an adrenalin rush.
“Well, most driving the interstate do not experience a 120-plus miles per hour car chase. Add on that, the driver of the vehicle being chased is firing a weapon back at you. So, these deputies are under a very situation,” CCSO Capt. Larry Bruce said.
Bruce said he was surprised that no other drivers were hit during the pursuit.
“The deputies were surprised by that too, especially that time of the morning when there was a lot of semitruck traffic on the interstate. It’s just a wonder that no one was harmed by this,” he said.
Popel is held at the Camden County jail without bond.
No one was injured, but investigators said Popel accidentally shot two holes in his car while firing at deputies.