Authorities say that one of two Coffee County, Tenn., burglary suspects tracked down in Cherokee County, Ala., on Wednesday died during a brief police pursuit near Leesburg on U.S. Highway 411.
New details on the incident first reported Wednesday afternoon were released by Cherokee County Sheriff Jeff Shaver early on Thursday.
The first suspect, Ricky C. Thomison, 33, of Manchester, Tenn., was arrested earlier on Wednesday without incident in the Bay Springs community, Shaver said in a statement.
But several hours later, officers spotted the second Tennessee suspect, Jeremiah Vandagriff, 33, of Manchester, Tenn., driving on Alabama Highway 68 and officers stopped him on Highway 411 near Leesburg, Shaver said.
"Knowing the suspect was armed and had made threats toward law enforcement, authorities surrounded the vehicle," Shaver said. "When the suspect refused to respond to verbal commands by law enforcement, nonlethal gas was launched into the vehicle."
When police approached Vandagriff's car they found him dead "from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound," Shaver said.
During the incident involving Vandagriff, another man jumped from the vehicle and attempted to flee as officers surrounded the vehicle. The man who jumped from Vandagriff's car, Rainbow City, Ala., resident Chris New, was booked on drug charges but not in connection with the burglary investigation in Tennessee, officials said.
Coffee County authorities had been searching for Vandagriff in connection with multiple burglaries in which jewelry, guns and ammunition were stolen. Several such items were found in the Vandagriff's car. The Alabama Bureau of Investigation is looking into the incident.
Results of the investigation will be turned over to District Attorney Mike O'Dell for review.
Meanwhile, Thomison was extradited back to Coffee County to face charges in Tennessee, according to Shaver.
Contact staff writer Ben Benton at bbenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6569.