A Holly Springs, GA, police officer died early Thursday morning after being dragged by a suspect during a traffic stop Wednesday night.
A Georgia Bureau of Investigation spokesperson offered limited details in a press conference Thursday afternoon.
Georgia Officer Dragged to Death at Traffic Stop, Suspect Killed
The suspect, 29-year-old Ansy Dolce of Cherokee County, was shot and killed by an officer in the incident, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said in a tweet.
June 17, 2021
Holly Springs, GA, police officer Joe Burson, 25, died after being dragged at a traffic stop Wednesday. (Photo: Holly Springs PD)
1 min to read
She confirmed that the officer was dragged and said he fired on the suspect.
The suspect, 29-year-old Ansy Dolce of Cherokee County, was shot and killed by an officer in the incident, the GBI said in a tweet.
Holly Springs Police Chief Tom Keheley identified the fallen officer as Joe Burson, 25. Keheley said Burson was a "new officer" who has been on the road more than a year.
The chief said Officer Burson was an "asset" to the department. "If you had the ability to clone police officers, you would want your officers to be Joe Burson," he said.
Chief Keheley said the cause for the traffic stop was speed.
"It was a simple stop," he added. "Every bit of this could have been avoided."
The GBI is investigating. Officer Burson's body was taken to the GBI lab for an autopsy, 11Alive reports.
More Patrol
Garmont Tactical’s LE Boot Lineup
In this video, we get a look at the latest law enforcement boots from Garmont Tactical, both for men and women. Kyle Ferdyn, sales manager, showcases four of the latest boots.
Read More →
Avon Protection Launches EXOSKIN-S2 High-Performance CBRN Protective Suit
With the commercial availability of Avon Protection’s EXOSKIN-S2, users now have increased options for their protective suit requirements across the spectrum of CBRN threat environments.
Read More →
Versaterm Acquires Aloft to Unlock a New Era of Drones for Public Safety
Versaterm has acquired Aloft, an FAA-approved Unmanned Service Supplier (USS) that specializes in real-time airspace intelligence and flight authorizations.
Read More →
Versaterm Launches Innovation Summit for Public Safety Drone Operations
The two-day DroneSense Innovation Summit by Versaterm will bring together public safety and industry experts to define best practices for scaling drone operations.
Read More →
What Makes a Good LE Boot?
Learn what makes a boot good for police officers as POLICE visits with Kyle Ferdyn, of Garmont Tactical, who explains the features of boots and why each is needed in an LE boot.
Read More →
Folds of Honor Opens Scholarship Application for Children and Spouses of Fallen or Disabled Service Members and First Responders
The application period for the Folds of Honor scholarship program is now open through the end of March. Scholarships support students from early education through postsecondary studies, easing the financial burden for families who have given so much in service to others.
Read More →
Team Wendy Now on GovX: Faster Verification and Discount Access for Eligible Professionals
With GovX verification now integrated directly into the Team Wendy checkout experience, eligible customers can confirm their status in just a few clicks and have the discount applied automatically.
Read More →
5.11 Debuts 2026 Footwear & Apparel at SHOT Show
5.11 showcased new apparel and footwear products during SHOT Show 2026, including new color options for the A/T Boa Lite Mid Boot and the Founder’s Jacket.
Read More →
5.11 Debuts New Load-Bearing Gear at SHOT Show
5.11 launched a variety of new load-bearing gear, ranging from backpacks to chest packs, designed for training, travel, and everyday readiness, this week during SHOT Show 2026.
Read More →
Streamlight Launches the Rechargeable TLR-3X & Other Lights at SHOT Show
Streamlight launched the TLR-3X and TLR-3X USB, two new weapon lights, and an assortment of other new lights during SHOT Show 2026.
Read More →