UPDATES:

July 3, 2024

Officer Resendiz. GoFundMe photo.

EAST RIDGE, Tenn. (WDEF) — Family and friends of the East Ridge officer struck by a car on the job are now collecting donations for him.

A GoFundMe page has been created for Officer Alan Resendiz.

Find the GoFundMe to donate here.

As of Wednesday afternoon, nearly $4,000 had been raised for Resendiz.

The GoFundMe explains the family’s need for financial assistance:

“Alan Resendiz , East Ridge Police officer who was struck by a high speed vehicle while laying spike strips to stop the fleeing suspect on July 1st. He is in stable condition but faces a long road of recovery.

To those that know Smiley Resendiz, know how much he loves the job and how selfless he is. He’s an amazing father, husband and friend. Right now we need you to pray for him and his family.

Any help will be appreciated, God bless.”

July 2, 2024

East Ridge Police identify injured officer, suspect arrested

The East Ridge Police Department (ERPD) identified the suspect who they believe struck an officer during a pursuit.

Whitfield County authorities took 22-year-old Clarksville native Ta’Bious Tezmon Wheat into custody. They then booked him into the Whitfield County Jail, and he is now awaiting extradition back to Tennessee.

Officer Alan Resendiz. Courtesy: Small Cities Coalition of Hamilton County

Additionally, the police department identified the officer who was struck as ERPD Officer Alan Resendiz.

Officer Resendiz was hit by a vehicle fleeing the Tennessee Highway Patrol overnight, according to police.

They said Officer Resendiz was trying to deploy spike strips to stop the fleeing vehicle when the suspect swerved across several lanes and struck him at a high rate of speed.

According to police, Wheat then continued south on I-75 into Georgia. At that time, officers on scene began trauma care to Officer Resendiz. EMS transported the officer to the hospital with serious injuries.

The police department said Officer Resendiz is stable but faces months of recovery.

An East Ridge officer’s wife is accepting donations to assist the Officer Resendiz’s family through Venmo.

The police department shared a link to her Venmo account and the link to her Facebook post requesting donations.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol is now investigating the incident.

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — We are following reports of an East Ridge Police officer who was injured Monday night near the Tennessee-Georgia line.

According to Tennessee Department of Transportation Spokesperson Rae Ann Bradley, the Tennessee Highway Patrol was pursuing a suspect from Marion County down I-75 South.

That suspect ran over an East Ridge police officer at the state line.

No official word yet on that officer’s name. But it has been confirmed that he is now in stable condition. His family was allowed back to see him.

The East Ridge Police Department shared on social media that a neighboring agency was pursuing an offender when the East Ridge officer attempted to deploy spike strips. That’s when the suspect swerved towards him.

He was struck at high speeds and injured on I-75 South near the Ringgold Road exit.

The pursuit ended south of the incident in Georgia where the suspect was taken into custody.

No official word yet on that person’s name or what charges they are facing.

Chattanooga Police did temporarily close and block the Northbound lanes for the ambulance to carry the officer to the hospital.

Those lanes reopened around 9:45 Monday night.

We are working to learn more.

East Ridge Police Department: https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=797699982499121&id=100067773786095&rdid=mH2cqBpjKOkoZU5a

Rae Anne Bradley TDOT: https://x.com/raeannetdot/status/1807952293620330679?s=46&t=eTTCnLtBgt6l_Sbh7dmnog