By Gary Lloyd
CLAY — A traffic violation that turned into a chase this morning ended near Joni Circle in Clay, according to authorities.
Jefferson County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Randy Christian said at about 8:15 a.m., a deputy attempted to stop a white Lexus on Highway 79 near the Blount County line for a traffic violation. The driver pulled off to the opposite side of the road. As the deputy was waiting for traffic to clear, the driver fled, Christian said.
The deputy chased the car about two miles south on Highway 79 and lost him. A description and last known location of the suspect was broadcast to responding units. Another deputy located the suspect vehicle on Sharon Church Road, Christian said. The suspect attempted to run over the deputy as he was getting out of his patrol car and that deputy fired a shot, and no one was hit, Christian said.
The suspect then fled again, and the chase traveled back north on Highway 79 where deputies deployed spike strips in an effort to stop the suspect. He missed them and the chase turned back south on Highway 79, Christian said.
It went through Pinson and into Clay before coming to an end on Old Springville Road near Joni Circle.
The suspect has been taken into custody. No one was injured, Christian said.
Contact Gary Lloyd at news@trussvilletribune.com and follow him on Twitter @GaryALloyd.