Buncombe Detective Struck, Suspect Airlifted After Multi-County Chase Ends in Crash

Detective Watemon Jones was on a routine follow-up warrant investigation at 180 Odonald Road in the Leicester community when Mitchell Monroe Gunter ran him over, dragged him with the vehicle, and fled — setting off a chase across four Western North Carolina counties that would not end for roughly 60 miles.

The encounter began shortly after 10:30 a.m. Monday at the Leicester address, where Buncombe County Sheriff's Office detectives were conducting a follow-up investigation. Gunter, who had an open warrant for his arrest, struck Detective Jones with his vehicle while trying to escape, dragging Jones before speeding away. Jones was transported to Mission Hospital in Asheville, treated for his injuries, and later released.

The violence did not stop with the detective. Gunter was then involved in a separate crash at the intersection of Old Leicester Highway and Mount Carmel Road, a collision now under investigation by the North Carolina State Highway Patrol. He stole a truck belonging to Marsh Propane Company immediately after that wreck, drove to 315 Aiken Road, abandoned the truck, stole a second vehicle, and kept moving.

What followed was a multi-county pursuit that cut through Madison, Yancey, and Mitchell counties before crossing into Avery County. Avery County Sheriff Mike Henley said Gunter was "driving extremely recklessly, reaching speeds from 90 to 100 miles an hour" throughout the chase.

Avery County deputies intercepted Gunter near U.S. 19E at the Mitchell County line and deployed tire deflation devices. "We were able to deploy tire deflation devices known as stop sticks and had a successful deployment, which was able to take down two tires," Henley said. The disabled tires sent Gunter's vehicle into a crash on Stamey Branch Road, where it overturned. Law enforcement blocked off Stamey Branch Road while Gunter barricaded himself inside the wrecked vehicle. He eventually surrendered.

Avery County EMS treated Gunter at the scene before he was airlifted to Mission Hospital. As of Monday evening, he remained hospitalized and in the custody of the Buncombe County Sheriff's Office.

Gunter faces multiple charges, including assault on a law enforcement officer, assault with a deadly weapon on a government official, and larceny of a motor vehicle, with the Weaverville Police Department filing the larceny charge related to their jurisdiction. The Avery Journal Times reported Gunter is expected to face additional felony charges across several counties as investigations by multiple agencies continue.