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Police Pursuit Starts in Marion County Ends in Georgia with Officer Injured

Chief Clint Uselton of the East Ridge Police Department reports that on the evening of July 1, 2024, East Ridge Officer Alan Resendiz was struck by a vehicle fleeing from the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

Officer Resendiz was attempting to deploy spike strips in an effort to stop the stolen vehicle when Ta’Bious Tezmon Wheat, 22, from Clarksville, TN, swerved across multiple lanes and struck Officer Resendiz at an extremely high rate of speed. Wheat continued to flee south on I-75 into the state of Georgia while officers on the scene quickly began trauma care on Officer Resendiz.

Wheat was ultimately taken into custody after crashing into a Marion County Sheriff’s Department patrol unit in Whitfield County. He is awaiting extradition back to the State of Tennessee.

Authorities say Wheat was identified as driving a car that was stolen. The chase began on I-24 eastbound by the Tennessee Highway Patrol in Marion County shortly before 9 p.m. Monday. Marion County assisted in the pursuit.

Officer Resendiz was transported by EMS with serious injuries. Officer Resendiz is currently stable although facing months of recovery. THP is conducting the investigation and is the primary agency responsible for criminal prosecution.