Sheriff Pace provides update on deputy injured in Friday night chase

A Warren County deputy was injured on Friday night by a suspect resisting arrest after fleeing from a traffic stop.

Sheriff Martin Pace says that Deputy Thomas McBride initiated a traffic stop with a Grand Marquis traveling south on Fisher Ferry Road. The driver failed to yield to the deputy’s lights and siren fleeing south on Fisher Ferry.

In an attempt to escape, the driver would turn down a side street and circle back to Fisher Ferry continue a distance and then make a U-turn to head north on Fisher Ferry.

When the driver failed to negotiate a turn from Fisher Ferry onto Joyce Lane and crashed, he continued to run on foot for about 100 yards.

Deputy McBride maintained the pursuit and actually caught the suspect before back-up arrived.  When the deputy caught the suspect, a “struggle” ensued.

Photo by David Day.

“The suspect was attempting to overpower the deputy,” Sheriff Pace said. The attempt was unsuccessful, and while Deputy McBride would be treated and released at Merit Health River Region, the suspect was booked into the Warren County jail, where he remains without bond.

The suspect has been identified as Brian Dion Smith, Jr., 26, of Vicksburg.  Smith has been charged with two felonies: felony evasion and simple assault on a police officer.  He is expected to make his initial appearance in Warren County Justice Court on Monday.