Man sentenced to 20 years for beating toddler, attacking Cobb police captain

Christian Hobby, 28, pleaded guilty to beating his 2-year-old son and hitting Capt. James Bullock in the face and head.

Christian Hobby, 28, pleaded guilty to beating his 2-year-old son and hitting Capt. James Bullock in the face and head.

A Tucker man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for beating his 2-year-old son and attacking a Cobb County police captain.

Christian Hobby, 28, was sentenced Monday after pleading guilty to two counts of aggravated assault on a peace officer and two counts of misdemeanor obstruction, said Kim Isaza, spokeswoman for the Cobb County district attorney's office.

He also pleaded guilty to aggravated battery, felony obstruction, giving false information, aggravated stalking and child cruelty charges, Isaza said.

Hobby admitted to leaving bruises on his child’s upper thigh in May 2016 and contacting a woman in violation of a temporary protective order.

According to prosecutors, Hobby contacted the woman two days before the June 23, 2016, attack on Cobb police Capt. James Bullock, who was repeatedly hit in the face and head with a railroad spike.

He told Channel 2 Action News his eye was swollen shut and he needed more than a dozen stitches.

“It was the first time realistically for me that I thought I was in the fight of my life,” Bullock told the news station.

The aggravated assault charges stem from that attack, which occurred after officers responded to reports of a suspicious person in the area of Hickory Grove Road in Acworth. Two officers made contact with Hobby, but he ran from them, authorities said.

“I pursued him through a back yard, through some power lines, into the woodline and then lost sight of him,” Bullock said, “and then found him again in the woods, trying to cover himself up.”

When Bullock started putting handcuffs on Hobby, the suspect swung the railroad spike and a fight ensued.

“He ended up on top unfortunately and I took several more blows to the face before I was able to defend myself,” Bullock recalled.

At that point, a bruised Hobby ran from the scene, according to authorities. Police dogs later found him hiding in the woods.

Bullock, a 27-year veteran of the force, was back at work a few days later.

“I believe his intent was to end my life that day,” the police captain said.

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