Authorities are searching for a man accused of hitting a deputy from behind several times with rebar.
According to the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office, the incident happened just after 8 a.m. Monday on Curt Ledford Road.
Sheriff Alan Norman said the incident began after Capt. Jody Seagle left his home to head to the sheriff’s office. Norman said when he was about 45 minutes away from his home, he saw an empty vehicle parked on the side of the road. It was in a private drive that led to nowhere, Norman noted. Seagle turned around to investigate.
When Seagle got out of the car, he was hit from behind with a piece of rebar, Norman said.
“This was an unprovoked, vicious assault,” Norman said in a news conference.
He was hit several other times and then a fight ensued between him and the suspect. The fight moved them in front of the patrol car, between that car and the suspect car.
The suspect eventually broke loose from the fight and got to the empty car. Norman said Seagle, who was still on the ground, was worried the suspect would back over him, so he fired four to five shots into that vehicle.
Investigators determined the man had come from the woods and behind the patrol car, so the deputy likely did not see him coming.
Seagle was not seriously hurt, investigators said.
“By the grace of God, he’s still with us today,” Norman said.
Channel 9′s Ken Lemon learned that suspect is still on the loose. He’s described as 6 feet tall wearing a white t-shirt, black shorts, and work boots. He has tattoos on both arms and a possible skull tattoo on the left side of his neck. The car he was driving is described as a tan older model Buick passenger car.
Anyone who saw or knows anything about this incident is asked to call the Cleveland County Communications Center with information at 704-484-4822.