‘Senseless’: Deputy hit from behind with rebar in Cleveland County; suspect at large

Sheriff Alan Norman said the incident began after Capt. Jody Seagle left his home to head to the sheriff’s office. Norman said when he was about 45 minutes away from his home, he saw an empty vehicle parked on the side of the road. It was in a private drive that led to nowhere in a rural area of the county, Norman noted. Seagle turned around to investigate.

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When Seagle got just one foot out of the car, Norman said he was hit from behind with a piece of rebar, which is a metal rod used to reinforce concrete.

“This was an unprovoked, vicious assault,” Norman said in a news conference.

He was hit several other times and then a fight ensued between him and the suspect. The fight moved them in front of the patrol car, between that car and the suspect car.

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The suspect eventually broke loose from the fight and got to the empty car. Norman said Seagle, who was still on the ground, was worried the suspect would back over him, so he fired four to five shots into that vehicle.

Investigators determined the man had come from the woods and behind the patrol car, so the deputy likely did not see him coming.

Seagle was not seriously hurt, investigators said. He was still in the hospital Monday but is expected to recover.

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“By the grace of God, he’s still with us today,” Norman said. “It could have easily been life-ending.”

It’s unclear if the suspect was hurt in the shooting, he added.

Seagle was in an in an unmarked patrol vehicle, but the sheriff said the man who attacked him had to see his uniform and know that Seagle was an officer. He said that makes the attack so much worse.

“It’s just senseless,” Norman said. “Totally senseless.”

Channel 9′s Ken Lemon learned that suspect is still on the loose. He’s described as 6 feet tall wearing a white t-shirt, black shorts, and work boots. He has tattoos on both arms and a possible skull tattoo on the left side of his neck. The car he was driving is described as a tan older model Buick passenger car with bullet holes.

By Monday night, deputies had released a sketch of the man believed to have committed the crime.

“He has no regard for the safety and welfare of any individual. Turn yourself in as soon as you possibly can,” Norman said.

Anyone who saw or knows anything about this incident is asked to call the Cleveland County Communications Center with information at 704-484-4822.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

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