Christopher Cord Cothren
Staff
Report
Officers from the Clay County Sheriff’s Office used a Taser on a fugitive from Hiawassee after he physically resisted arrest at the scene, according to a news release.
On Aug. 26, Christopher Cord Cothren, 34, was an occupant in a Buick SUV that was stopped by Clay County Lt. Tyler Faggard, Det. Steven Smith, Det. Brandon Coker, Sgt. Ethan Henderson and Deputy Sean Stout.
Officers reported Cothren had a history of fleeing from and eluding law enforcement. He also has outstanding felony warrants out of Union County, Ga.
When it stopped, the SUV was quickly penned in by the officers. Cothren was removed from the vehicle and handcuffed, according to the release from Sheriff Mark Buchanan.
A search of Cothren’s person yielded several hypodermic syringes loaded with liquid and a plastic baggy containing a white crystalline substance which field tested positive for methamphetamine.
During the walk from the SUV to an awaiting patrol vehicle is when he reportedly began resisting the officers.
Once in the limited space of the open doorway of the patrol vehicle, Cothren began kicking and preventing the door from being closed.
Cothren was warned, then “dry stunned” with a Taser (without projected wire barbs) on his leg for compliance in order to get the door closed.
He was transported to the Clay County Detention Center where he was checked by EMS and charged with felony possession of methamphetamine and being a fugitive from Union County, Ga.
Cothren was not issued a bond for his release.