An officer with the Tennessee Highway Patrol has been charged with firing a gun at a vehicle he was allegedly chasing while off duty in Tracy City, Tennessee.
According to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, trooper Timothy Johnson, 57, was arrested Tuesday on three counts of aggravated assault. District Attorney Courtney C. Lynch also identified the trooper Thursday as “Sam” Johnson. Lynch requested the state lead the investigation.
The incident happened around 8 p.m. CDT June 2 in the 200 block of Colyar Street, Lynch said in a June 4 email.
(READ MORE: State probes Grundy County shooting involving off-duty trooper)
During the state investigation, agents learned Johnson was involved in a crash in the Tracy City area in which the driver of the other vehicle left the scene, a statement emailed Wednesday by the TBI said. Johnson allegedly pursued the other vehicle, made multiple attempts to ram it and fired his weapon, striking the other vehicle. The driver of the other vehicle wasn’t injured by the gunfire.
The pursuit ended when the victim lost control of his vehicle and crashed in the 1400 block of U.S. Highway 41, the TBI said. No one was injured by gunfire. Johnson was driving his personally owned vehicle at the time of the incident. Johnson was booked into Grundy County Jail on a $30,000 bond.
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Johnson is the same trooper injured in an alleged July 3, 2022, attack during a traffic stop just outside Tracy City, according to Lynch. The stop involved a man riding an ATV.
The ATV rider, Austin Gage McHone, 28, allegedly struck Johnson’s patrol car with the ATV, according to a Highway Patrol statement and Grundy County authorities at the time. As Johnson attempted to take him into custody, McHone allegedly struck Johnson, and a lengthy struggle ensued.
After the struggle, McHone allegedly fled the scene, and Johnson was transported to a hospital in Franklin County, Tennessee, for treatment, authorities said at the time. McHone later turned himself in on charges of aggravated assault, resisting arrest and felony evading arrest.
The case is pending in court, Lynch said.
Grundy County Jail officials were unable to provide Johnson’s bond status or a booking photo when reached by phone Wednesday.
Contact Southeast Tennessee reporter Ben Benton at bbenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6569.