Officer Struck By Hit-And-Run Driver

A Fulton County police officer was struck by a hit-and-run driver Wednesday morning, 360 Degrees confirmed.

It happened at the intersection of Campbellton Road and Stonewall Tell Road in south Fulton County.

A spokesperson for the Fulton County Police Department said the officer was en route to the Fulton Industrial precinct when he was struck.

Police caught the suspect after a 2 to 3 mile foot chase in the woods.

Officials said the officer wasn't badly hurt. Charges are pending.

Georgia Senate OKs Tougher Massage Parlor Penalties

The Senate has approved a proposal that would tighten penalties against operators of illegal massage parlors, especially in middle Georgia, which seems to be a hub for such establishments. Senate Bill 364 passed on Wednesday by unanimous vote.

Under the proposed law, the offense would become a felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $25,000 upon a person's third offense. The person's license would be suspended for at least a year for their first offense and permanently on the third offense.

The bill also creates harsher penalties at the Secretary of State's Office, which administers business licenses. Under the proposal, a person's license would be suspended for at least a year for their first offense and permanently on the third offense.

Starving Pets Found During Gwinnett Eviction

The Gwinnett County Sheriff's office said one dead cat and three other animals starving to death and infested with fleas were discovered by deputies who served an eviction notice in Norcross. According to the sheriff's office, when deputies entered an apartment in the 600 block of Ashley Lakes Drive Tuesday night, they discovered it was filled with animal feces, urine and filth.

Deputies discovered two Bullmastiffs and one cat in various stages of starvation, said the sheriff's office.

One other cat had died and it appeared to have been partially eaten in an effort for the remaining animals to survive, said the sheriff's office. The resident of the apartment, Suzy Lugo, was not home when the deputies served the eviction notice.

Deputies obtained warrants for Lugo and she is charged with one felony aggravated cruelty to animals and three misdemeanor cruelty to animal charges, said the sheriff's office. The three animals were removed from the apartment and are in the custody of Gwinnett Animal Control.

Car Accident On Lake Lanier Bridge, Multiple Injuries

Police said multiple people were injured during a five-vehicle, chain-reaction accident on a bridge crossing Lake Lanier. At last check, five people were injured and two of them were sent to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries, said police. The accident happened just after 5 p.m. Wednesday, along SR 369 on the bridge linking Hall and Forsyth counties.

The wreck caused the bridge to close for three hours, police said. After the accident, police said approximately 40 to 50 gallons of gasoline, oil and anti-freeze leaked from the wreckage into Lake Lanier.

An emergency response team said the spill will not harm wildlife and will quickly dissipate.

Police Shootout With Man Connected To Fatal Blaze

Henry County police said they exchanged gunfire with a man they wanted to question in connection to a fatal fire.

A fire broke out at a home on the 2000 block of East Atlanta Road in Stockbridge at about 9:30 a.m. Wednesday. Police said one resident, William Jack Chambers, 76, was killed in the blaze and another was injured. The cause of the fire is being investigated.

Henry County Police wanted to question Chambers' stepson, 45-year-old James Mickey Walden, about the fatal fire and found him at an Ellenwood gas station, according to Henry County official Capt. J. Bolton. Bolton said Walden pulled a gun when officers approached him. Shots were fired, and Walden was hit, Bolton said.

"I came in here, looked at that window here and all you could see was cops shooting this way at a red car. And it was just quick and then he was taken in an ambulance screaming. There was 30 to 40 shots. It was a lot, it was scary," said witness Tiffany Ogles.

"I heard a bunch of gunshots going around and it sounded like it was coming inside the business, so we locked the doors," said witness Cynthia Roberts.

Walden was transported to Grady in critical condition. The GBI is continuing to investigate the incident at the request of the Henry County Police Department.

Fulton County Police; Georgia Senate; Gwinnett County Sheriff's office; Henry County Police; WSB-TV; Atlanta-Journal Constitution.