GBI: Man who fled deputy killed himself

As of Saturday, August 18, 2012
© Copyright 2013 Rockdale Citizen

CONYERS -- An autopsy has confirmed that a man who fled from a Rockdale County Sheriff's Office deputy Thursday morning died of a self-inflicted gun shot wound, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigations.

The man has been identified as Noel Heard, 42, of a Gwinnett County address.

GBI agents recovered approximately 50 pounds of marijuana from Heard's vehicle and $8,000 in cash, according to a press release issued by GBI spokesman John Bankhead Friday afternoon. A 40 caliber Glock pistol, which had been fired once, was found beside Heard's body along with one spent shell casing, Bankhead said.

The GBI was requested to investigate the death by Rockdale County Sheriff Jeff Wigington. The GBI investigation is continuing and once completed will be turned over to the Rockdale County District Attorney.

Bankhead said additional details about the incident would not be released right now as the investigation is ongoing.

According to a statement released by the Sheriff's Office on Thursday afternoon, a deputy was serving a search warrant on a business on General Arts Road on Thursday morning when he noticed a suspicious vehicle. When the deputy turned around his patrol car to observe the other vehicle, "the driver left at a high rate of speed, overturning on Farmer Road near Rockbridge Road."

According to the statement, the deputy rounded a bend in the road in time to see the driver crawl out of the vehicle and run behind a house.

"The deputy heard a shot and discovered the suspect on the ground," according to the statement.

The suspect was transported to Rockdale Medical Center and was later pronounced dead.

Editor Alice Queen contributed to this story.

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maryinga 9 months ago

Strange....he kills himself because he had 50lbs of pot. He must have had deeper problems other than that. It's a strange world we now live in.

KCtruth 8 months ago

One of the smartest comments on this post/truck full of monkeys i've heard so far. People don't realize the effects of undiagnosed mental disorders + large amounts/access to money + social pressures. It's a recipe for disaster. This is absolutely a different day and age, but these things have old history as well. We need to all wake up and heed the warning signs from our loved ones.....they ARE there.

bulldoggie 9 months ago

OK Elmo now your statement holds true

tweet9908 9 months ago

THIS STORY SOUNDS LIKE A CROCK OF BS TO ME!! IT SOUNDS TOO THIN TO FRY LET ALONE MAKE A SANDWICH....WHO IN THEIR RIGHT MIND WOULD BELIEVE THIS CROCK OF BULL!!!! IT'S NOT STRANGE IT SOUNDS LIKE A LIE TO ME!!!!! CAN U SAY INVESTIGATE CAUSE SOMEBODY LYING THROUGH THEY TEETH!!!!

Southside 9 months ago

THEY IS????

bjfriend 9 months ago

I'm so sorry to Pale's family for such a lost, knowing of this person I would have never thought he would become to the point of taking his own life. I wish that I could have spoke to him to know what really had him at such of state of mind. R.I.P and you will have another chance to ask forgiven.

cdunn001 9 months ago

if you are a friend as you state you know pel did not kill himself he was not the type..he loved living and life...pot come on...if any thing running and the gun went off a shot him...so friend you are to thing so bs like that ...

Frustrated 9 months ago

Sometimes things are just hard to accept. We dont always want to hear the truth about things. The GBI is investigating the incident, which was the right thing for Sheriff Wiggington to do. Why not wait until their investigation is complete before pointing fingers and making unfounded accusations?

rockdalegirl 9 months ago

R.I.P. Pale...its terrible to read this kinda stuff and then all the comments...specially when no one knows the true story...but its even harder when you do know the story..you left behind a wonderful family..and you will be missed dearly..and some of these people might have done the same thing if it was them and knew the consequences..specially if they were on their 3rd strike too..but we all make mistakes..and not everyone is perfect..your still loved and missed...so rest in paradise my dude!!!!! #GodForgives

will 9 months ago

3rd strike, sounds like a good man to me. 50#s of pot running from the police with a loaded gun. Im glad we will not have to pay for his incarceration. I hate it for his family but he should have thought of them to begin with.

KCtruth 8 months ago

You probably don't make enough to pay for anyones incarceration. Starting an incomplete fragmented sentence with a numeral is a sure sign that the education system has failed you more than this man ever could. He wasn't selling crack or METH like most of the mobile home owning hillbillies in Rockdale smoke. Get over yourselves and stop JUDGING others. Half of the folks on here speculating have drug dealers or users in their family, circles, and bedrooms which they share out of WEDLOCK. Focus your attention on your SINS and realize this topic is clearly about a LIFE GONE and possible mental illness!! In other words try ACTUALLY praying for this family, not judging others, and cleaning up your home otherwise ......STFU and keep it moving! He's bearing his own burdens and healing now. "Judge not least ye be judged!"

CadyJackson 8 months ago

"...keep it moving!"

See now, all these folks would have forgotten about this incident if you had not gotten your panties in a twist and JUST HAD to comment and bring this story back to the top of the list.

You're welcome.

conyersbird 9 months ago

It all sounds like a story similar to John DeLorean. Drugs are never the answer.

cdunn001 9 months ago

how you know it was his third ..stirke pel was not the type to take life not even his own...so do think you sound good...not...sometimes things happen accidentily and that is what happen he fell on the gun and it shot hit ...he did not pull the gun and kill himself ..so apparently you dont know him like we do ..and it has nothing to do with excepting..it really knowing someone...he will rest in heaven with his father..cause it was an accident.

Lorenzo 9 months ago

Apparently you neither know this person well nor his history. You also seem to have difficulty with spelling, punctuation and grammar. He has a history of breaking the law and that's exactly what he was doing when this occurred. Making a victim out of the criminal makes no sense. As a community we cannot accept or condone this type of behavior and we need to work harder on expelling the type of individuals that will commit these crimes.

KCtruth 8 months ago

I think you meant "you neither knew", that would be past tense. I figured since you appear to be the authority on grammar, Japel's criminal past, and how to cast out/expel "these types of individuals" you would want to first work on your basic flaws. I'm soooo glad you have NOT a heaven nor hell to place anyone in, including Japel. I wonder what's in your perfect closet. You sound like one of those corny, scorned (broke) guys who had their wife, girlfriend, daughter or fantasy crush taken by one of these "criminal" types (probably Japel). We all knew he was a successful business owner, pro drag racer, sharpest dresser from that side of ho dunk Conyers, and a charismatic ladies man as well. LOL. He's gone and you're still MAD. Hate is a disease which apparently can't even be cured with mortality and compassion. GET WELL SOON!#hater

Southside 8 months ago

Since you're correcting everybody, he isn't "bearing his own burdens and healing now". He died about a month ago. Southside Truth

will 9 months ago

cdunn001, if you can read better than you can speak look at the comment by rockdalegirl. "specially if they were on their 3rd strike too." How do you know he fell on the gun and it shot it, whatever that means. The GBI report does not make it sound like an accident.

Frustrated 9 months ago

cdunn looks like youre changing your tune a bit now. A few days ago you and some others were making accusations that something was being hidden and the truth was not being told. Now you say it was an accident. I have said all along to wait until the investigation was complete. Things arent always what they seem on the outset. Maybe you and a few others have learned a lesson with this.

Outcry 9 months ago

Yes, it is painful when these types of things happen. And no one has the right to judge. And as sad as it is to see a life lost, we also have to look at the negative impact there would have been had those drugs made it the street. 50lbs of weed isn't just for recreational use

KCtruth 8 months ago

Oh yeah God forbid people would have gotten high in larger numbers on marijuana had this man not been stopped! That's such a profound revelation from another anonymous online saint. News flash:Weed will soon be legalized so I wonder who you'll blame then. He wasn't selling crack or METH like most of the hillbillies in Rockdale smoke. Get over yourselves and stop JUDGING as you claim we shouldn't do. Half of the folks on here speculating have drug dealers or users in their family, circles, and bedrooms which they share out of WEDLOCK. Focus your attention on your SINS and realize this topic is clearly about a LIFE GONE. In other words try REALLY praying for this family, not judging others, and cleaning up your home otherwise STFU and keep it moving! He's bearing his own burdens and healing now.

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