On Saturday afternoon, a Roane County sergeant with the Sheriff’s Department was off duty when he attempted to stop a male after he witnessed a hit-and-run in Kroger’s parking lot.

According to the police report, Douglas Cole Suhy got into a commercial truck that wasn’t his, backed into a parked van, and was heading towards the nearby Lowes store when Sgt Gary Nelson attempted to apprehend the suspect. When confronting Suhy about hitting the van, Suhy struck the officer in the face.  He then got into the truck and sped off towards Roane State Hwy and was stopped shortly thereafter by authorities. When other officers arrived at the scene, they observed Sgt Nelson with blood coming out from a large cut on his face.

Sergeant Gary Nelson was transported to The Roane Medical Center for treatment.
Douglas Cole Suhy remains jailed and was charged with:

• Assault of a first responder
• Theft of a motor vehicle over $60,000
• Driving without a license
• Leaving the scene of an accident