ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — A detective with the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office was injured Monday after being struck and dragged by a suspect’s vehicle during an investigation in Leicester, authorities said.
Detectives were conducting a follow-up investigation around 10:30 a.m. at a home on Odonald Road when they encountered Mitchell Monroe Gunter, who had an outstanding arrest warrant, according to the sheriff’s office. During the encounter, Detective Watemon Jones was hit and dragged by a vehicle driven by Gunter, who fled the scene.
Authorities said Gunter was later involved in a crash at the intersection of Old Leicester Highway and Mount Carmel Road. The crash is under investigation by the North Carolina State Highway Patrol.
After the collision, investigators said Gunter stole a truck belonging to Marsh Propane Co. and drove away. He abandoned that vehicle on Aiken Road, stole another vehicle and continued fleeing.
Law enforcement officers pursued Gunter through multiple counties, including Yancey, Mitchell and Avery, before he was involved in another crash. He was airlifted to Mission Hospital in Asheville, where he was being treated and placed in custody of the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office.
Jones was also taken to Mission Hospital, where he was treated for his injuries and later released.
Gunter faces multiple charges, including assault on a law enforcement officer inflicting injury, assault with a deadly weapon on a government official, larceny of a motor vehicle, felony hit-and-run and resisting, delaying or obstructing an officer. Additional charges include traffic-related offenses such as driving with a revoked license, expired registration, no insurance and failing to stop at a red light.
The Weaverville Police Department has also charged Gunter with larceny of a motor vehicle in connection with a separate incident.
In a statement, Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office District 2 Capt. Chris Stockton said Jones is a valued member of the agency and that his injuries were not life-threatening. Stockton also credited multiple agencies for their assistance in the case and said no other injuries were reported.