ATLANTA (CBS ATLANTA) -
CBS Atlanta News is learning more about the Atlanta police officer who took a bullet to the face while chasing a suspect last Friday.
Officer Reggie Robinson, 35, is recovering at Grady Memorial Hospital.
Police said Robinson spotted Frank Nance, 20, making a drug deal.
Before joining the Atlanta Police Department, Robinson worked in Baton Rouge, LA, as a postal carrier for seven years.
"He has a lovely wife and two lovely daughters, a 2-year-old and an
8-year-old," said Atlanta Police Zone 4 Evening Watch Commander Lt. John
Quigley.
The man who police said shot him is sitting in a jail cell - and we're learning more about him, too.
Jail records show that Nance is no stranger to the justice system.
In May 2009, Nance was charged with prowling. Then two months later,
Nance was locked up for driving a stolen car, attempting to commit
burglary and obstructing police. Nance was then also charged with
breaking into a car in May 2010.
Police said Friday night's shooting wasn't the first time Nance used a gun during a crime.
In June, Nance was charged with attempted burglary, prowling, driving a stolen car
and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Then in August 2011, Nance
was arrested and charged with aggravated assault and burglary. Later in
April 2012, Nance was also arrested and charged with aggravated
assault, making terroristic threats and being a felon in possession of a
firearm during the commission of a crime.
Police responded to nearly two dozen drug calls in the past year where
Friday night's shooting happened along Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard.
Quigley said Robinson did everything by the book Friday night when
responding to the call. That's when Nance
allegedly shot Robinson in the face.
"He set a superb example," said Quigley. "His strength of character in
handling the incident and circumstances, he applied his training, he
continued to give us information, he continued to care for himself, and
did a remarkable job even after being hit with a bullet."
After Friday
night's shooting, police arrested and charged Nance with possession of
cocaine, making terroristic threats, aggravated assault against a law
enforcement officer and being a felon in possession of a firearm during
the commission of a crime in connection with the alleged shooting of
Robinson.
Quigley said
Robinson should make a remarkable recovery and hopefully get back to the
job he's only had since November.
"Tomorrow will be two months and for this to have occurred,
obviously a very serious incident," said Quigley. "We're extremely
grateful that Grady did a great job repairing him."
Nance waived his first appearance at the jail over the weekend; his next court date is later this month.
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Officer Reggie Robinson
Frank Nance
