MARION- A man who police say injured a sheriff’s deputy during A high-speed chase through two counties Friday afternoon has been identified as Latta resident Leon Bethea.
Bethea,37, is charged with failure to stop for a blue light and driving under suspension in connection with the chase, Latta Police Chief Bobby Powers said.
The chase ended at an IGA grocery store in Marion after the suspect’s car first collided with the Marion County sheriff's deputy’s car, then hit three other cars in the store’s parking lot. T
wo people in the three cars were injured, according to S.C. Highway Patrol reports.
The deputy, who suffered minor injuries, was treated and released from Marion County Medical Center early Friday night, Marion County Sheriff Mark Richardson said.
The officer has a torn tendon in his lower leg just above his heel and will need surgery, he said.
Powers said the pursuit begin when a Latta Police officer tried to stop the suspect because the tail light on his car wasn’t working.
Bethea remains in custody at the Marion County Detention Center.
More charges may be forthcoming.
The crash is being investigated by the S.C. Highway Patrol. Officers from the Marion County Sheriff's office and the Marion Police Department assisted in the case.
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