Deputy dragged during traffic stop shoots driver in Rowan County

ROWAN COUNTY, N.C. — Authorities are investigating a deputy-involved shooting that stemmed from a traffic stop early Wednesday morning in Rowan County.

The Rowan County Sheriff’s Office said a deputy pulled over a white Ford Mustang around 2 a.m. on U.S. 601 near the Volonte Motel and called for backup from a nearby deputy and his K-9.

When backup got there, officials said the K-9, “Echo,” alerted deputies to the possible presence of drugs in the Mustang.

When deputies told 23-year-old Tyler Gambrell and his passenger, Isaac Marroquin, to get out of the car, Gambrell sped off with two deputies hanging on to the car, according to officials.

Both deputies were dragged by the vehicle as Gambrell began picking up speed, and that’s when one of the deputies fired his gun into the car, hitting Gambrell in the arm, according to the sheriff’s office.

The deputies were able to break free from the car as Gambrell continued driving down the highway toward Salisbury. Deputies and officers with the Salisbury Police Department and the China Grove Police Department got behind the car until it drove over stop sticks that officers set up on Jake Alexander Boulevard near the entrance to Interstate 85.

Officials said the car was able to hop on the interstate and made it 3 miles before stopping in the median near Peach Orchard Road. Gambrell then jumped out the car and ran across a nearby yard where he was captured and taken into custody, according to the sheriff’s office.

Resident Jesse Watson told Channel 9 he was in bed as officers ran through his yard.

“When I looked out the front door I didn’t see him, but I saw the police running through the yard with their lights on,” he said.

Gambrell was taken to Novant Health-RMC to be treated for his injuries from the shooting. He’s expected to be OK. Both deputies were hurt, but are also expected to be OK.

The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigations and the Rowan County’s Sheriff’s Office are investigating.

Criminal charges are expected.

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Cox Media Group