Harnett Deputy Dodges Suspect's Vehicle

ERWIN, N.C. — A Harnett County deputy sheriff escaped serious injury Friday afternoon after a suspect tried to run him over, authorities said.

The deputy, whose name hasn't been released, pulled over a man at about 2 p.m. to serve warrants for breaking and entering and larceny, authorities said. The man, who was accompanied by a woman, then tried to run the deputy over, authorities said.

The deputy fired several shots at the suspect's vehicle as he jumped out of the way, but authorities said they believe he missed the vehicle and the suspect.

The incident occurred near the intersection of Bunnlevel-Erwin Road and Titan-Roberts Road a few miles west of Erwin, authorities said.

Authorities located the vehicle, which belongs to Bobby Dean Burnett, four or five miles away at Burnett's house on Byrd's Mill Road, Lt. Everett Clendenin of the state Highway Patrol said.

The Highway Patrol helicopter and several K-9 units were helping authorities search the area for the man and the woman Friday evening.

The deputy was taken to Betsy Johnson Memorial in Dunn, where he was being treated Friday evening for apparent shoulder and chest injuries, authorities said.