No Arrests Made in Hammett Case

Nearly one month since a Paulding man died after Haralson-Paulding Drug Task Force agents shot him during the execution of a search warrant, no arrests have been made as a result of the warrant and related investigation.

Danny Hammett, 60, was shot by agents during the Oct. 17 incident. Hammett—full name Daniel John Thomas Hammett—succumbed to his injuries at Grady Hospital in Atlanta about an hour and a half after authorities executed the narcotics search warrant at a Nebo Road residence in Hiram. Officials said agents shot Hammett after he raised his hands up in an aggressive manner while holding a black shiny object that was pointed toward agents; it was later determined that the object had been a canister of pepper spray.

Authorities last month said prior to the warrant’s execution, HPDTF agents had been investigating the home’s occupants in reference to narcotics sales. According to agents, there had been narcotics purchases as well as several narcotics complaints on the residence, with the search of the home revealing evidence that indicated drug trafficking.

Cpl. Ashley Henson, public information officer for the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office, told Dallas-Hiram Patch on Wednesday that there have been no arrests made in the case so far. PCSO investigators and task force agents continue to investigate the case.

Agents involved in the shooting were reported to have been put on routine paid administrative leave until the conclusion of an investigation. Henson on Wednesday said three agents were given the paid administrative leave, with the leave period lasting no longer than a week.

Return to Dallas-Hiram Patch for updates.

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