Off-duty Grundy officer injured by fleeing trespasser's car

Grundy County Sheriffs Deputy Rusty Parker sets fire to a pile of marijuana plants behind the Grundy County Sheriff's department on July 31, 2014.
Grundy County Sheriffs Deputy Rusty Parker sets fire to a pile of marijuana plants behind the Grundy County Sheriff's department on July 31, 2014.

An off-duty Grundy County Sheriff's deputy was injured Monday afternoon when he approached a trespassing vehicle in the Ross Creek area.

Deputy Rusty Parker was working at his second job for Cumberland Outdoors when he and a park ranger approached a vehicle that had trespassed onto Cumberland Outdoors property around 4:30 p.m. CDT.

A ranger spotted what he thought was drugs inside the vehicle and the officers asked the driver to step out of the car, officials said. But the driver put the car in gear and struck Parker before he fled from the scene.

The driver was identified as Nick Smartt, officials said. There was no information available on his residency or age.

Parker was treated and released at Erlanger Sequatchie Valley in Dunlap, officials said.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol investigated the incident and officials said warrants had been signed against Smartt.

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