Columbus Resident Charged with Forcibly Assaulting Two Federal Officers

COLUMBUS, Ga. – A federal criminal complaint charging a Columbus resident with forcibly assaulting two federal officers as they attempted to take him into custody last week was unsealed today.

Christopher Upshaw, 24, had his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Court Judge Stephen Hyles on Aug. 10, and was ordered detained by the Court. Upshaw is charged by criminal complaint with forcibly assaulting, resisting or opposing a federal officer. If convicted, Upshaw faces a maximum 20 years in prison.

According to court proceedings and the criminal complaint, Upshaw was under investigation for alleged drug distribution. On July 5, a federal search warrant was executed on a suspicious package destined for an address in Columbus; agents found 12 vacuum sealed bags of marijuana from Northern California. On July 31, a suspicious package originating from Northern California and addressed to the same location was identified. As part of the investigation, agents observed the suspicious package received and then placed in a Dodge Challenger registered to Upshaw. When deputies attempted to pull the vehicle over, allegedly driven by Upshaw, a high-speed chase ensued, with the driver of the Challenger traveling recklessly through residential neighborhoods and performing illegal and evasive lane changes in heavy traffic. The vehicle also traveled northbound in a southbound lane. The pursuit was terminated by law enforcement due to concerns about public safety, and the driver of the vehicle got away.

On Aug. 4, another suspicious package from Northern California addressed for a residence allegedly associated with Upshaw was identified. Law enforcement, attempting to arrest Upshaw on outstanding arrest warrants for assault and battery, felony malicious wounding and resisting arrest, conducted surveillance on the location that day. At 3:30 p.m., the suspicious parcel was delivered. Approximately 30 minutes later, Upshaw allegedly arrived in his Dodge Challenger, picked up the package, placed it inside his car and got back in the driver’s seat. At this time, 15 law enforcement officers wearing agency-issued body armor with visible insignia approached Upshaw to arrest him on outstanding warrants. Upshaw allegedly began forcibly operating his vehicle to resist the arrest, despite officers’ demands to stop and exit the car. One FBI Task Force Officer attempted to open the driver’s side door and one FBI Agent tried to open the passenger’s side door. Upshaw allegedly accelerated causing his car to strike the FBI Task Force Officer. Simultaneously, because of the vehicle’s acceleration, the FBI Agent on the passenger side was unable to disengage from the door handle and was pushed into a nearby vehicle causing bodily harm. Law enforcement continued chasing Upshaw, who eventually abandoned the car and fled on foot. Upshaw escaped and was captured on Aug. 9.

The case was investigated by FBI, DEA, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office and the Coweta County Sheriff’s Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Williams is prosecuting the case.

A complaint is only an allegation of criminal conduct, and all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt.