A Sequatchie County, Tenn., deputy and the man he was chasing are recovering from gunshot wounds after a struggle at the foot of Cagle Mountain in Dunlap.
Deputy Wallace Cunningham sustained two gunshot wounds and 21-year-old suspect Shaun Michael Powers was struck once in the hand as the two fought over a gun around 9:45 p.m. CDT Wednesday.
"It could've been worse," Sequatchie County Sheriff Ronnie Hitchcock said Thursday morning.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is probing the incident. Powers, meanwhile, is charged with attempted first-degree homicide.
On Thursday, Hitchcock said Cunningham had received through-and-through wounds to his hip and shoulder. Powers was similarly struck through the hand. Both men were treated for their wounds.
Powers remains in custody and Cunningham will be recovering at home for the next few days, Hitchcock said.
The chase started Wednesday night after Cunningham was dispatched to an unrelated call.
Hitchcock said Cunningham was en route to that call when he encountered Powers' vehicle, which "did two or three doughnuts" and sped past the deputy, who then began to chase him.
After a pursuit of about a mile or a mile-and-a-half, the driver spun out into a ditch on Tram Trail, near state Highway 111 on the north end of Dunlap, the sheriff said.
The results of a preliminary investigation indicate Cunningham then exited his patrol car and "gave lawful commands in an attempt to approach and arrest Powers, who did not comply, and brandished a weapon toward the deputy," TBI spokesman Josh DeVine said in a statement.
Cunningham discharged his stun gun toward Powers and a struggle for the suspect's gun ensued, during which the deputy was shot by Powers at least twice. Despite his injuries, Cunningham was able to disarm and detain Powers until other law enforcement officers could arrive, DeVine said.
Hitchcock said the first shot was fired when Cunningham pulled open Powers' car door and struck the deputy in the shoulder, then, as the two struggled for the weapon, another shot hit both men, the sheriff said.
Hitchcock said the second bullet went past Cunningham's bulletproof vest.
Cunningham never fired his own weapon but still managed to wrestle the weapon away from Powers and detained him until other officers arrived.
Cunningham was flown to Erlanger hospital in Chattanooga for treatment.
Powers remains held without bond at the Sequatchie County Justice Center.
Contact staff writer Ben Benton at bbenton@timesfreepress.com or on Twitter twitter.com/BenBenton or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ben.benton1 or 423-757-6569.