Deputy injured, 2 county cruisers, van damaged in chase

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, September 2, 2009

A Warren County deputy and another man were injured in one of two wrecks involving sheriff’s vehicles during a high-speed chase of a man suspected of domestic violence Tuesday night.

Deputy Timothy Ware, 31, was westbound on Clay Street, near the intersection with North Frontage Road when an eastbound car turned as if it were going to cross the westbound lanes, causing Ware to hit brakes, Vicksburg Patrolman Bobby Jones said.

The vehicle “positioned itself to turn, but didn’t turn, causing Ware to react,” he said.

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“One or two back wheels locked, and the vehicle spun,” Warren County Sheriff Martin Pace said. Jones said the county cruiser hit a Vicksburg Video van, a 2007 Chevrolet Express, that had stopped at the intersection.

Ware was in serious condition this morning at River Region Medical Center, a hospital spokesman said. Pace said the deputy was being treated for a concussion and a broken collar bone.

The van’s driver, Bryant Humphrey, 37, 902 Blossom Lane, Apt. H-2, was treated and released Tuesday night.

The second deputy involved in the chase was Mike Traxler, who initially met the 1990 Mercury Grand Marquis driven by the suspect on Berryman Road.

The suspect ran Traxler’s cruiser off the road at Berryman and Clay, beginning the chase, Pace said.

“The suspect did not yield to Traxler’s lights,” Pace said.

At the time of the Clay Street wreck, Traxler and the suspect were speeding west on Clay and then Grove before winding their way north to Main and Second North streets. There, the suspect jumped out of his moving car and ran away, leaving his car to run into Traxler’s cruiser, Jones said.

Traxler was not injured.

The domestic violence suspect, Douglas Walters, 21, 1414 First East St., was caught by Traxler and Deputy London Williams in the 1400 block of Main Street near the intersection.

The initial call in the case, at about 8:28 p.m., was for a report of a fight at a home in the 500 block of Berryman Road, Pace said.

The suspect ran, Pace said, and jumped into the 1990 Mercury Marquis and sped away from the house.

Walters faces felony eluding charges and several misdemeanor charges including domestic violence and resisting arrest, Pace said.

He also was cited for a sixth offense of a suspended driver’s license, Jones said.

The victim in the fight did not appear to be injured, Pace said.

Ware was a special agent with the Mississippi Tax Commission for two years before joining the Warren County Sheriff’s office in March 2008, Pace said.

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Contact Tish Butts at tbutts@vicksburgpost.com