1 day ago
BUNCOMBE COUNTY, N.C. (FOX Carolina) - The Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office arrested a man after he allegedly hit a detective with his car, stole two vehicles and led law enforcement on a multi-county chase Monday morning.
Deputies were conducting a follow-up investigation at a home on Odonald Road in the Leicester Community just after 10:30 a.m. At that time, detectives found 39-year-old Mitchell Monroe Gunter, who had an open warrant for his arrest.
According to deputies, a detective was struck and dragged by Gunter’s vehicle. The detective was taken to Mission Hospital, where he was treated for his injuries and released.
Officials said Gunter drove away, crashed at the intersection of Old Leicester Highway and Mount Carmel Road and stole a truck belonging to Marsh Propane Company.
The crash is under investigation by the North Carolina Highway Patrol.
Deputies shared that Gunter drove the stolen truck to an apartment on Aiken Road where he abandoned it and stole another vehicle, leading law enforcement officers on a chase through Yancey, Mitchell and Avery counties before eventually crashing.
Gunter was airlifted to Mission Hospital in Asheville, where he is undergoing treatment and is now in the custody of the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office, according to officials.
Gunter was charged with the following:
- Assault on a law enforcement officer, inflicting injury
- Assault with a Deadly Weapon on a Government Official
- Larceny of a Motor Vehicle
- Felony Hit and Run
- Resist, Delay, or Obstructing an Officer
- Failure to Report an Accident
- Driving with Expired Registration
- Driving While License Revoked
- Operating a Vehicle with No Insurance
- Failure to Stop at a Red Light
The Weaverville Police Department also charged Gunter with larceny of a motor vehicle from the incident within that jurisdiction.
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