Police Car Damaged in Shooting
CARROLL COUNTY, Tenn.- McKenzie Police are investigating after an officer’s car was shot into during a traffic stop, Friday. “It’s shocking that’s all I could think when I heard about it,” said resident Gregory Hines. “It’s shocking.” McKenzie Police Chief Craig Moats has only been in office a little more than a week. He told WBBJ 7 Eyewitness News the shooting happened around 11:00 p.m on Bethel Court, the city street that runs through Bethel University’s campus. Chief Moats said the officer was responding to a burglary call in the area. “We received a report of a burglary and in our response to that burglary we made a traffic stop,” said Chief Moats. “I received a call about 11:30 that night advising me what had happened. During the course of that traffic stop a third party non-contact person fired shots.” Officials said police were not dealing with the suspected gunman during the stop. At least one of the bullets broke through the passenger side window of the patrol car. “It’s shocking to me because McKenzie is a good area when it comes to violence I’ve never dealt with anything as far as violence in McKenzie,” said Hines. According to Bethel University officials, the campus was immediately put on lockdown around 11 p.m. Friday. Campus police said the lockdown ended around 5:45 a.m after they were notified by the city that the suspect had been captured. Chief Moats confirmed officers arrested the suspect. The suspect’s identity is not being released at this time, the department’s investigation is ongoing. “Well, we are going to continue the investigation and we are going to make arrests as necessary and we are going to enforce the laws here in McKenzie,” said Chief Moats. Officials said the officer involved in the shooting is okay, no injuries were reported. Chief Moats said the damage to the squad car serves as a reminder that every officer puts his or her life on the line every day. “There’s always potential for danger and I think the officers understand that that they have to be aware,” said Chief Moats. Police are not saying if they have charged their suspect, so they have not released a name. McKenzie Police are asking that anyone with information about this crime to call the McKenzie Police Department at (731) 352-2264.
