COVINGTON, Ga. (AP) — Georgia authorities say a police officer shot a man who was using a large, “medieval”-style sword to swipe at traffic.

Covington police Capt. Craid Treadwell says officers got calls Wednesday about a man walking in and out of traffic carrying the sword and occasionally swiping at cars.

The Covington News reports that police say the man attacked an officer. Treadwell says as the officer shouted commands and drew his gun, the man raised his sword above his head and attacked the officer again.

Treadwell says the officer had no choice but to fire and hit the suspect once.

It was not immediately clear whether the 44-year-old man identified as Julian Leon Faulkner Jr. would face charges.

Treadwell says Faulkner was undergoing surgery. A number for Faulkner in Covington, about 35 miles east of Atlanta, was disconnected.

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Information from: The Covington News, http://www.covnews.com/gbase/expedite/index.html

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