A Kanawha County sheriff’s deputy was shot in the hand early Thursday following a vehicle pursuit of a man in Sissonville. The deputy was transported to CAMC General in Charleston and is in stable condition, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
In a news release, police said the deputy, who has not been identified, was involved in a pursuit at 1:11 a.m. Thursday on Walker Drive, in Sissonville, when the suspect vehicle turned onto Applehill Lane, south of Sissonville, before stopping at the end of the roadway.
After stopping, the male driver of the vehicle — identified by police as Nathan Oxley, 43, of Sissonville — reportedly fired multiple shots at the deputy as he was exiting his patrol car.
Several shots from Oxley struck the deputy’s vehicle, the Sheriff’s Office said. One of the shots allegedly fired by the suspect struck the deputy in the hand as the deputy exited the vehicle, but he was able to return fire and call for backup. Oxley reportedly was not struck by any of the return shots fired by the deputy.
Once other officers arrived, Oxley was taken into custody near the scene by deputies using “non-lethal force,†according to the statement. Sheriff’s Lt. Joshua Lester said he would not give further details about how Oxley was apprehended until the full investigation of the incident is completed.
The suspect also was taken to the hospital for treatment of injuries he sustained during the incident and was later arraigned on charges of attempted murder and malicious assault.
Oxley’s preliminary hearing in Kanawha County Circuit Court is set for 1:45 p.m. March 7.
Police said the pursuit began after the deputy recognized the vehicle as the suspect vehicle from an active disturbance call that he was responding to. The disturbance reportedly was on Galena Lane, in Sissonville, and involved Oxley. The caller on Galena Lane reported that Oxley was violent and possibly under the influence of drugs, according to the release.
Police said Oxley is expected to be charged with multiple offenses, including the attempted murder of a police officer and malicious wounding.
Responding agencies to the incident were:
Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office
Charleston police
South Charleston police
Nitro police
St. Albans police
A female passenger of the vehicle — whom deputies have identified as Rebecca “Becky†Linville — fled the area at the time of the shooting.
At 7:40 a.m. Thursday, the Sheriff’s Office said in a statement that Linville had been located around Applehill Lane. She was being evaluated by medics for prolonged exposure to the cold and was expected to be interviewed Thursday about the incident.
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