Suspect involved in wreck that killed sheriff’s deputy bonds out
Pictured is 21-year-old Abdulhafiz Tawfik Abdullahi who has been charged with the death of Dep. Garner
By MJ Kneiser, WLHR
The man charged in the death of a Franklin County Sheriff’s deputy has been released on a $50,000 property bond from a licensed bonding company.
21-year old Abdulhafiz Tawfik Aduullahi of Lawrenceville went before Franklin County Magistrate Judge Cody Grizzle Tuesday morning on charges of First-degree Vehicular Homicide in the death of Franklin County Sheriff’s Deputy William “Bill” Garner Sunday evening.
Franklin County Sheriff Steve Thomas said his bond comes with a number of conditions.
“There’s are conditions that he may not leave the State of Georgia, that he turn his passport in and he had to sign a waiver of extradition. If he’s notified of a court appearance he has to appear. If not and he leaves the state then he’d be in violation and we can pick him without having to sign other extradition papers,” Thomas explained.
Sheriff Thomas said he believes Aduullahi will return to Franklin County for his next court date.
The Georgia State Patrol issued the charges against Aduullahi and did conduct a blood test to determine if he was driving under the influence at the time of the accident.
Those results will not be available for several weeks.
According to Franklin County Sheriff Chief Investigator Jimmy LeCroy, at around 7:15p Sunday evening, Deputy Garner was working a wreck on I-85 at Exit 164 when he was struck by an oncoming vehicle.
LeCroy said the vehicle, a 2018 Honda Accord driven by Aduullahi,of Lawrenceville, left the road and struck Deputy Garner who was working a wreck in the center median.
EMS arrived on the scene and worked on Garner at the scene then transported him to St. Mary’s Sacred Heart Hospital in Lavonia where he died from his injuries.
Funeral arrangements were announced Tuesday.
Visitation for Deputy Garner will be Friday evening July 24 from 6 to 9 at Smith’s Funeral Home in Winder. Funeral service will be Saturday at 2PM at Bethlehem Church in Bethlehem, GA
Police escort will meet at Smith’s Funeral Home at 12noon Saturday.
Deputy Bill Garner was 53.