Dade County Sheriff’s Office Maj. Tommy Bradford, who lost part of his left leg after a woman ran over him during a police chase earlier this month, wrote a letter to the public thanking them for their support.
Bradford was on U.S. Highway 11 and lay spike strips across the road, hoping to stop a car driven by Lora Leann Wooten. She was leading the police on a chase from Fort Payne, Alabama, where she allegedly stole an air compressor from a home.
Wooten swerved from the roadway and “targeted” Bradford, Sheriff Ray Cross said during a press conference earlier this month. Alex Case, the county 911 director, said it was clear on the scene that Bradford lost his left leg around the knee.
In his letter released today, Bradford said he decided to retire from law enforcement after waking up from his first surgery at Erlanger Health System. But after seeing the community’s support, he has changed his mind.
Wooten faces a slew of charges in Alabama and Georgia, including aggravated assault against a police officer.