Police: Suspect ‘struck’ agent before officer-involved shooting

Columbus Police said Brian Napier assaulted and charged a Metro Narcotics Task Force agent right before the agent shot him March 23 during a drug raid at 4218 Oates Avenue.

Represented by attorney William Kendrick, Brian Napier pleaded not guilty today in Columbus Recorder’s Court to one count each of felony obstruction, trafficking methamphetamine, possession of marijuana and five additional counts of drug possession stemming from the 6:30 p.m. search where three others were arrested.

Sgt. Anthony Berinobis said the Metro Narcotics Drug Task Force received a tip about illegal drug activity in a residence at 4218 Oates Ave. A “controlled purchase” was made at the home before officials went to the residence at 6:30 a.m. to search the residence, according to police.

Authorities said at least nine people were inside the home when they knocked and announced the search warrant. Russell Napier, who is still wanted on a warrant for the sale of methamphetamine, was one of three who fled out the back door, officials testified.

Brian and Russell Napier are brothers, according to Kendrick’s testimony

Agents found a locked bedroom door as they were moving through the house and identifying themselves as police officers. After forcing open the door, an agent from the from the Harris County Sheriff’s Office encountered Brian Napier.

Berinobis said the defendant “became aggressive” and struck the officer with his hand and charged him, “forcing” the agent to shoot him in the left arm. Brian Napier was treated at Columbus Midtown Medical Center for a graze wound on his bicep and then released back into police custody.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation was called in after the shooting to investigate, which is normal protocol in officer-involved shootings.

Kendrick asked Berinobis if the agent, who police declined to name, apologized to Napier following the shooting. The detective replied,” I believe so.”

When asked why the detective apologized, the Berinobis responded, “I cannot speak for another officer.”

Police found an assortment of drugs and a drug-related object in an undisclosed location in the home that they believe belonged to Brian Napier, including four hydrocodone tablets (street value of worth $40), six dilaudid tablets (street value of $120), 33 clonazepam tablets (street value of $330) and 82.3 grams of methamphetamine (street value of $8230).

Berinobis said Brian Napier, who lived in the Oates Avenue home, admitted that he was aware that illegal drugs sales were being at the house.

Kendrick asked Judge Michael Cielinski to dismiss the obstruction charges.

“It basically seems like they’re charging him with obstruction for being shot,” Kendrick told the court.

Cielinski declined the dismissal but reduced the obstruction charge to a misdemeanor.

The defendant was ordered to return back to the Muscogee County Jail after being denied bond on the drug trafficking charge.

Police identified the three individuals arrested on the scene during the raid as Thomas Wrenn, 33, and Twain Griffis, 48, both of Columbus, and Sarah A. Jones, 33, of Cataula.

Officials said they found methamphetamine residue in Jones’ backpack and three glass smoking devices among her property on the coffee table. Wrenn was also had a glass smoking device in his possession, according to police.

Police said Griffis ran from law enforcement before his arrest.

Griffis and Jones appeared in Columbus Recorder’s Court Friday, but Wrenn was released from the jail on a $250 bond prior to the hearing.

This story was originally published March 29, 2016 at 6:02 PM with the headline "Police: Suspect ‘struck’ agent before officer-involved shooting."