Details emerge on deputy shooting; suspect denied bond
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - Granting the wish of a Richmond County deputy who was shot in the face, a judge denied bond to the suspect during a hearing Tuesday that revealed more details about the encounter than we’ve ever learned.
The deputy, Michael Cole, was at the bond hearing Tuesday morning.
Authorities say he was responding to a disturbance call at a home in the 200 block of Bungalow Road when he was shot by Vernon Cratic Jr., of Augusta, early last November.
Cratic was charged with five counts of aggravated assault upon a peace officer, one count of possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and one count of burglary in the second degree, according to jail records.
At the hearing, prosecutors outlined a sequence of events on more details than we’d heard before.
On Nov. 10, 2022, Cratic was in an on-again, off-again relationship with woman on Bungalow Drive, prosecutors said.
Court records show she had a protective order against him.
READ THE PROTECTIVE ORDER:
Cratic arrived at that house at from 1:30 to 2 a.m. and got into a verbal altercation with her, and she and a friend who was staying there saw Cratic take out a gun and wave it around without pointing it at anyone, according to prosecutors.
The friend left the house and called 911 and told law enforcement there was a man at her friend’s house with a gun. She asked deputies not to use lights and siren.
After arriving, Cole and two other deputies found the resident on the porch. She said her ex-boyfriend, Cratic, was inside and was acting belligerent and could have a gun.
The officers entered with Cole in front. From the hall, they heard two gunshots. Cole moved into the kitchen behind the stove.
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There were more gunshots and Cole began to fire. One of the other deputies said he heard Cole yell he’d been shot in the face and he was trapped in the kitchen.
Because of his injury, Cole began firing erratically over the stove. Another deputy fired through a wall where he thought the shooter was located.
A third deputy reached the back door and kicked it in from the outside and was able to drag Cole out of the house.
POSSIBLE PENALTY:
- If Vernon Cratic is convicted, he faces a minimum of 175 years in prison and a maximum of 295 years.
Cole was taken to the hospital by another deputy.
At that point, other officers had arrived, and they tried to Cratic via loudspeaker and cellphone, to no avail.
Six cans of gas were shot into the home, but Cratic shot out the windows, so the gas didn’t seem to affect him, according to prosecutors.
The standoff lasted two hours or so and several deputies were shot at.
The deputies said they heard Cratic say, “I’ve got something for you if you come up in here.”
After a time, Cratic walked out and surrendered.
He later told the Georgia Bureau of Investigation he didn’t know the people at the home were law enforcement officers until he heard the radios, according to prosecutors.
However, he did it he taunted them while they were outside, saying, “Ya’ll are going to have to kill me today.”
Also during the GBI interview, he itted he should have given up once law enforcement was on the scene, prosecutors said.
He was denied bond Tuesday based on a likelihood of committing more felonies if released. Public safety risk was an issue in the decision.
EARLIER COVERAGE:
- Deputies break silence on suspect’s claims they attacked him
- Sister shares details on deputy who was shot in face
- pours in for Richmond County deputy who was shot
- Richmond County deputy has surgery for injuries from shooting
Cratic had a pending charge of second-degree burglary right before the shooting and three prior felony convictions including felony entering auto, theft by stealing and burglary.
He was out on bond for the felony burglary charge when the shooting happened.
Prosecutors said they were concerned about a high likelihood by Cratic to reoffend and/or flee from state.
The defense is calling this a swatting case, a tragic accident and a mistake initiated by someone making false allegations against Cratic.
Cole – whose lawyer spoke for him during the hearing – still has a long road ahead.
He’s lost teeth and some sense of smell. His vision has been affected and more surgery is ahead, his counsel said. Cole still has some bullet fragments inside of him.
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