Trigg County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. Zach White continues to recover at home after he was shot three times by a suspect fleeing state police in a vehicle pursuit last week.
Sheriff Aaron Acree provided more details on the incident that happened last Tuesday that saw Sgt. White was hospitalized as a result of the shooting.
click to download audioAcree says officers received a report that a driver, later identified as 21-year-old Jermaine Jackson Jr. of Missouri, was attempting to elude state police on I-24 and got off at the Cadiz exit. After driving into a field next to the interstate, Acree says the suspect fired at him after wrecking his vehicle.
click to download audioAcree says other deputies came to the scene and provided aid to Sgt. White while the suspect continued to fire at officers.
click to download audioState Police have not released any information as to why Jackson fled police and a motive for firing at officers. Acree said the investigation by state police is continuing but didn’t know a timetable of when it would be completed.
He said he, along with Deputies Young and Ahart, are on administrative leave pending the results of the investigation. Acree also said they will undergo counseling since they were also victims of the incident.
click to download audioAcree said his department undergoes periodic training for engaging in people with firearms — both in the open and in a vehicle but adds you have to be prepared for everything whether or not it was covered through training.
Acree says police agencies from adjoining counties have been assisting in answering calls and covering the county while his department is short-handed.
