Cleveland officer killed while joining pursuit

photo Cleveland Police Officer Justin Maples
photo A Cleveland Police Department officer was killed in a single vehicle car crash in Cleveland Sunday night. Photo by Matt Barbour.

CLEVELAND, Tenn. - The Cleveland police officer killed Sunday night in a single-car crash was on his way to help another officer pursue a stolen vehicle, authorities said at a news conference this morning.

Department personnel are mourning the death of Officer Justin Maples, who was responding to help a Bradley County officer chasing a Jeep when the 9:30 p.m. accident occurred at the 1600 block of South Lee Highway, Chief Wes Snyder said.

The accident is being investigated by the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

"He was responding to a call to assist a county unit in the pursuit where a stolen Jeep was being pursued," Snyder said. "As he was enroute to that location, he lost control of his vehicle. It skidded off the roadway and struck a utility pole."

Maples, 35, is survived by his wife Danielle and three young sons.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete.

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