Police chase ends with shootout, closes part of Route 220,

WSLS News Staff
Published: February 29, 2008

Updated 3:38 p.m. with names of Roanoke County officers

A police chase ends with a shootout between officers and the man they were chasing.

Roanoke County Police say the chase began just after midnight early this morning (Friday), after 24-year-old Micah B. Sword did not stop his pick-up truck for speeding on Franklin Road, near the Roanoke City limits.  Roanoke County investigators say Sword sped off down Franklin Road, toward Franklin County, with two Roanoke County Police officers, Officer Shaun Chuyka and Officer Spencer Lewis, in pursuit.  The chase reached speeds of between 40 MPH and 60 MPH.

The Franklin County Sheriff’s office tells us around 12:44 a.m. this morning (Friday), they received a call from the Roanoke County police department requesting help for a police chase on Route 220.

A Franklin County deputY joined in the chase as the truck approached the Franklin County/Roanoke County line on Route 220.  Then police say Sword stopped in the middle of the road, and the three officers chasing him stopped behind him.

Police say Sword then walked out of the pick-up truck with an assault rifle, and started shooting at them.  Roanoke County police say Sword shot one of the Roanoke County Police cruiser and the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office cruiser more than two-dozen times.  WSLS has learned that one of the police officer’s cruisers has eleven bullet holes in it.  Officers from both Roanoke County and Franklin County hid behind their cars, and fired back.

The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office says Deputy Brian Garland hit Sword during the shootout.  Police say Sword has life-threatening injuries, and is being treated at Roanoke Memorial Hospital.  A Roanoke County officer was grazed by a bullet fragment on his leg, but is not seriously hurt.

The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office tells us Deputy Garland has been placed on administrative leave, as part of standard procedure following a police involved shooting.  Investigators add Deputy Garland’s actions appear to be consistent with his law enforcement training.

The two Roanoke County Police officers, Officer Shaun Chuyka and Officer Spencer Lewis, have been put on administrative reassignment pending the completion of a review, as part of standard procedure.

Both the Roanoke County Police Department and the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office are investigating.

The chase and investigation forced the closing of Route 220 Southbound near the Roanoke County and Franklin County line.  Police re-routed Southbound traffic into one of the Northbound lanes.

10 On Your Side’s Lindsey Henley is talking with police.  She’ll have more on what happened during the chase, starting tonight on WSLS at 5:00 p.m.