Cherokee Co. deputy hit by suspect fleeing from Polk Co. on ATV

From Local 3 News: A 33-year-old man is facing serious charges after the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office says he hit a deputy with his ATV while fleeing from Polk County authorities on Thursday.

The North Carolina agency says they were notified by their Tennessee partners across the border, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, that Thomas Lee Prince was escaping from them on US 64.

Tennessee deputies called off the chase on Pack Mountain, where a North Carolina later deputy found the suspect on his ATV and attempted a traffic stop.

Prince reportedly tried fleeing again but got stuck on the shoulder of the roadway. The deputy approached him and “challenged him” in the roadway, according to CCSO, but Prince was able to free the ATV and accelerated toward the deputy, striking and knocking him to the ground.

Fortunately, the deputy was not seriously hurt, as he was able to get up and return to his patrol car to continue the pursuit.

The chase ultimately ended on Candy Mountain Road, where a fight ensued. Deputies say they tased Prince to subdue him and took him into custody.

Now, he’s facing the following charges:

• Felony assault on a law enforcement officer with a deadly weapon
• Assault on a law enforcement officer inflicting injury
• Felony flee to elude arrest
• Felony resisting arrest

Cherokee County Sheriff Chris Wood says his deputies have shown remarkable dedication and motivation recently:

“The first mistake that Mr. Prince made was crossing the Polk County – Cherokee County line […] In this incident, our deputy’s training kicked in, and he showed excellent resolve in a stressful situation. This type of reckless behavior is unacceptable, and we will not sit passively by while things like this occur. I can’t begin to tell you how thankful I am that our deputy was not seriously injured.”