Report reveals identity of Savannah Police officer in viral arrest video

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - A Savannah Police report has identified the officer caught on video threatening to shoot a suspect in the head as Officer Keith Shabi.

The report, obtained by WTOC Investigates, shows that the suspect in the video, Joshua Watson, was already known to Shabi before the incident.

The video, taken by a bystander, shows just two minutes of the encounter. The police report, written by Shabi, says everything started when he noticed Watson walking near Montgomery and Duffy.

Read: Savannah Police respond to arrest video caught on camera; say suspect was out on bond

Watson had been arrested in the past with a stolen handgun, and had allegedly been involved in an aggravated assault in Frazier homes.

Shabi also says in the report he had selfies of Watson showing off a gun with a switch, which can illegally turn a semi-automatic weapon into an automatic weapon.

Officer Shabi says after seeing Watson walking, he set up “surveillance,” and then watched Watson ride through a stop sign on his bike. Shabi says another officer tried to stop Watson, but he tried to escape and yelled expletives at the officers.

Shabi says he then he attempted to “cut off Mr. Watson’s path of escape” and Watson ran into him, then ran off while trying to pull out a gun from his pants.

The report says officers gave orders for Watson to stop, but he fell on the sidewalk and continued to reach for his gun, “in an active attempt to draw it out and possibly use it.” Shabi says that caused him to “draw out my service pistol and point it at the back of his head, while warning him that if he did not let go of the gun, I would shoot him in the head.”

Watson allegedly told Shabi after his arrest that he carried a gun because of threats from people in Eastside Savannah.

The conditions of his bond say he can’t have a gun.

The report also says Watson was taken to the hospital before he was booked into jail. Watson has been charged with theft by receiving a stolen firearm, felony obstruction, unlawful possession of firearm by a person under 21, and failure to stop at traffic control signal.

Savannah Police Chief Lenny Gunther released a statement on the incident on Wednesday, saying the situation would be reviewed.

As with all use of force incidents, this situation will undergo a thorough review to ensure all actions taken were appropriate. We remain committed to accountability and transparency, and I appreciate the community’s patience and trust during this process.”

Chief Lenny Gunther, Savannah Police Department

Watson is still being held at the Chatham County Detention Center.