A woman who slashed a Bradley County deputy on I-75 and stole his patrol car crashed the vehicle and died, possibly from the deputy’s gunfire, according to authorities.
Deputy Dustin Patrick was cut on the hand but not seriously injured, Bradley Sheriff’s Office spokesman Bob Gault said.
He said a motorist called the sheriff’s office about 2 p.m. today after seeing a woman walking north on I-75 with two young children.
Patrick found her just north of exit 20 and got out of his cruiser to talk to her. As they talked, the woman pulled a knife and began slashing at the officer, Gault said.
The deputy pulled his weapon and fired as the woman jumped into the cruiser and sped away north. Just past the Harrison Pike overpass, she lost control of the cruiser, crashed through a fence onto Third Street and struck a tree. She was taken to Erlanger hospital in Chattanooga, where she died, Gault said.
Authorities found a car at exit 20 that they believe the woman had been driving, which Gault said had been reported stolen.
The woman’s identity was not released and no information was immediately available on the children.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is handling the investigation, Gault said. Deputy Patrick, who joined the department in 2005, will be on administrative leave with pay while the investigation continues.
See Sunday’s Times Free Press for complete coverage.
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At least it'll be cheaper to repair or replace the cruiser than it would cost the taxpayers to try this case and house this criminal in jail!!!
This is the second patrol car in about as many days that has crashed ....we'll soon run out at this rate. I wish Deputy Dustin Patrick (whose name has not been released) a speedy recovery.
Dear Lord. What is going on? Oh, the Tribulation started or perhaps she was raptured while leaving the scene for maiming an officer and abandoning her little children.
This could have all been avoided and a life spared if the LEO had just turned off his engine and taken his keys when exiting his vehicle. This should be standard procedure if for no other reason than the price of gas!!! What the heck...it's other people's money.
As a mother my heart cries for the children. I would love to know from Deputy (Dudley Dorite)Patrick If he was not seriously injured with some cuts on his hand , Why was it nessisary that he shot and kill this woman in front of 2 kids? Now if you or i killed someone whom has cut our hand and stole our car every DA and Judge in bradley county would be seeking the DEATH PENALTY. But he is on paid vacation while the 2 kids have to deal the rest of their life with what he done and as bonus they get to do it in custody of bradley county child services (YEAH) Now here is the lesson for the day-Just because you have a badge and carry and gun does not entitle you to kill someone cause you got scared, got a boo boo and they took your car!!!!!
Seriously? A woman died in front of her children, an officer was stabbed, and a county property was destroyed and these negative, selfish comments are all you have to say? I agree the officer should have turned off the car and taken the keys, but maybe there were circumstances that caused him to take quick action such as trying to save the woman or her children. He could have been in danger himself. Maybe he shot at the car to stop her from a car chase that could have killed others. Unless you are in someone's shoes, do not judge. Officers work hard and are in more danger than ever daily. Drugs, mental illness, and moral corruption are just as dangerous as a robber with a gun.
You people are awful. You don't even know the whole story. May God have mercy on your soul and only hope that you are NEVER put in a situation like that. You are so IGNORANT. Oh by the way, learn how to spell and use correct grammar before you blog.
This crazy woman shut down I-75 and I got stuck in the traffic. I was late for my birthday dinner but at least it wasn't the end of the world. I don't understand why they had to shut the interstate down when the wreck happened off the interstate.
I'm ashamed to read the the "lesson of the day" comment. Congratulations on successfully sticking your foot in your mouth without knowing the entire story. Hope you're never put in any situation similar to what this Officer was in, because I seriously doubt you would have handled it as well has he did.
It was a very unfortunate that these children had to watch their mother behave as she did, which lead to her death. It's a good thing that it wasn't some good Samaritan that had stopped to pick up this woman and her children, this news story could have been much worse.
My heart goes out to the Children and to this Police Officer. The events that unfolded the other day will always weigh heavy on all their hearts.
I knew this young lady who lost her life and there has to be more to this story but we will never know cause she didnt make it to tell her side of the story. RIP Metta you will be truly missed.
First of all someone needs to get this story out there there is no mention of it unless you search it ... Next ! I was not going to bring up the negative cop comments til I saw all these idiots trying to act like he did just the right thing ! Dpty. Dustin Patrick is a murderer He used deadly force when his life or the kids lives were not in immediate danger ... The story says she wrecked and then died The truth is he had already shot his entire magazine into the car killing her and causing the car to crash !!! Now he gets free paid vacation time ... WRONG ANSWER ! Justice now is the only answer he needs to be tried for at least manslaughter ...
Tis better to be silent and thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. It really disturbs me how you people can get on here and make such foolish comments when less than two months ago we lost an officer trying to protect himself, his officers, and the public. Why are you people even making such prejudicial comments when you don't even know the whole story?
Oh yeah the dpty Dustin Patrick BCSD was only slightly cut on his hand and not stabbed or any other such wounds as to call life threatening ... If this gets swept under the rug then I know that America is not the country it once was ... We have the right to due process and protection fron street justice scenarios like this one ! All he had to do is sit there and call for backup ! She could have been stopped professionaly by the entire Law Enforcement resources at our disposal ... NOT LIKE THIS !
Exactly ! The whole story is that he had no business shooting anyone ... You cop loving idiots need to realize one day it could be you just because you walk away slowly from some irate assanine officer who then decides he has a right to open fire for resisting law enforcement ! Dollydagger seems to be a typical pro - cop or possibly one of Bradley Co. Punks >>> Yes/No maybe ! Who cares ? Not Me !
ALL THESE NEGATIVE COMMENTS...DID YOU KNOW THAT THAT LADY WASN'T IN HER RIGHT STATE OF MIND AND WAS ONLY TRYING TO MAKE TO HER HOMETOWN LOUISVILLE,KY TO BE WITH HER FAMILY BECAUSE SOME IDIOT TOLD EVERYONE THAT THE WORLD WAS ENDING AND SHE BELIEVE HIM..SO ALL SHE WANTED WAS TO SHE HER FAMILY BEFORE THE WORLD END AND SHE GOT KILLED TRYING TO MAKE IT!!!!!!
AND THINK ABOUT HOW THE FAMILY FEEL WHEN THEY READ YOUR COMMENTS...U WOULDN'T WANT SOMEONE WRITE NEGATIVE THINGS ABOUT YOUR FAMILY IF THEY DIED!!!
Something about the officer's telling of tragedy is troubling. His story just doesn't add up. Are the children being interviewed by anyone to see what they might be able to reveal that led to this woman's death? Today's cops can't be trusted on their word only. Unfortunately, but true.
What a dumb butt(Bradley Officer)....kills a mother in front of her children...even the Police killer(matthews) life was spared...something here dont add up.....
Mr.Anderson I request you check the law regarded use of force on a fleeing armed suspect. And this officer's only mistake was, loss of situational awareness. A female stranded on the side of the road with kids did not appear to be a threat, lesson learned. BTW, after sustaining a mechanical injury he was able to effectively put rounds on target, neutralizing the threat. Good job.
Was a knife actually retrieved? That could also be revealing. What turn of events took place to make this woman believe the cop was there to harm her rather than help her, if what the police say is true, that she attacked him first? Something about this officer's side of the story just doesn't sit right.
The following comment is by a robot. Robocop 9000.
"SeaSmokie59er said... Mr.Anderson I request you check the law regarded use of force on a fleeing armed suspect. And this officer's only mistake was, loss of situational awareness. A female stranded on the side of the road with kids did not appear to be a threat, lesson learned. BTW, after sustaining a mechanical injury he was able to effectively put rounds on target, neutralizing the threat. Good job."
Depersonalizing cop-speak "put rounds on target" (shoot the woman) "neutralizing the threat" (kill the woman)
Robocop...... I like it. And like the good deputy, I'm going home tonight.
Pop Quiz: Replace poor helpless mom with dew-rag wearing, gold-teeth Jamal and the situation changes....but not the law.
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