Alabama-to-Georgia chase: Suspect drove 10 miles after being shot

Donald Brandon Hamner

Donald Brandon Hamner

A man wanted in connection with several crimes in Alabama was shot by law enforcement Monday afternoon after a chase ended in Paulding County, authorities said.

Donald Brandon Hamner, 25, of Coker, Ala., is being held in the Haralson County jail on charges of aggravated assault on a peace officer and failure to appear, GBI spokesman Bahan Rich said in a statement. More charges are expected,  Paulding County sheriff’s Sgt. Ashley Henson confirmed.

Hamner led authorities on a chase that began in Cleburne County in Alabama with a report of a stolen vehicle before going through Haralson and Carroll counties in Georgia, Henson told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Once Hamner crossed the state border, Georgia State Patrol troopers encountered his GMC Yukon, which wrecked at a Broad Street home in Tallapoosa, Rich said. Hamner then ran to another Haralson County home, broke in and stole the keys to a Toyota Tacoma, Henson said.

“Hamner then drove the stolen truck towards troopers, who reported hearing shots fired at them,” Rich said.

A trooper returned fire toward Hamner’s vehicle, according to the GBI. During the gunfire, the back glass of the Yukon was shattered, Henson said.

Despite being shot, Hamner continued driving on Ga. 120 about 10 more miles, where he drove through a homeowner’s yard on Old White Oak Church Cemetery Road in Dallas and eventually crashed into an embankment and a tree in the backyard, Henson said.

When he exited the vehicle, Hamner was caught by a police dog, Henson said.

He was taken to WellStar Kennestone Hospital for a dog bite and a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to the arm, Rich said. He was released later Monday and taken to jail, Henson said.

No officers were injured during the chase or shooting.

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