GBI: Man dies after being Tased by Cobb County police

Written by: A. Smith

Published October 24, 2025 @ 10:21 AM ET

COBB COUNTY, Ga. – The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is examining a use-of-force incident involving the Cobb County Police Department that left a 47-year-old man dead Tuesday evening.

Officials said Timothy Lyle Sheats, of Dallas, became unresponsive after being tased by officers during an encounter on Powder Springs Road near Hurt Road, just off Barrett Parkway. He was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. No officers were injured.

According to preliminary information from the GBI, Cobb officers were dispatched around 6:10 p.m. to a report of a hit-and-run crash at the intersection of Powder Springs and Hurt roads. As they were responding, additional 911 callers reported that a man at the scene was acting erratically and running into traffic, narrowly avoiding being hit by passing vehicles.

When officers arrived, they encountered Sheats walking down the road, claiming he had been shot, investigators said. Officers did not see any visible injuries.

The GBI said one of the responding officers asked Sheats to get into his patrol car for safety, but Sheats refused and continued walking into traffic. At one point, he allegedly tried to enter a passing vehicle.

In an effort to prevent Sheats from being struck by traffic, an officer used a Taser to subdue him, according to the GBI. Additional officers arrived to help secure Sheats.

At some point during the encounter, Sheats became unresponsive. Emergency medical personnel were called to the scene and transported him to the hospital, where he later died.

Cobb Police spokesperson Officer Aaron Wilson said the GBI’s involvement is standard procedure in incidents involving the use of force that result in death.

Once the investigation is complete, the findings will be turned over to the Cobb County District Attorney’s Office for review.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact GBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jastacia Cheeks at jastacia.cheeks@gbi.ga.gov.