Deputy struck by stolen car

K-9 officer Dustin Allen was hit and seriously injured Monday when trying to stop a stolen vehicle with spike strips on I-22 near the West Holly Springs exit, sheriff Kenny Dickerson said.

Lt. Kerry Reid initially stopped the stolen vehicle, with a Shelby County, Tenn., tag, that was traveling east on I-22 near the West Holly Springs exit. The vehicle then sped away, and the chase continued toward Holly Springs on the interstate. The stolen vehicle turned off I-22 at the Highway 7 South exit and soon went back onto the interstate in the westbound lane toward RedBanks. As Reid continued the pur-

suit, Allen got out of his vehicle to deploy spike strips on I-22 West in advance of the stolen vehicle.

Allen, 26, was struck by the stolen green 1994 Honda after the driver switched lanes to try to avoid the spike strips, the sheriff said. The deputy was alongside the shoulder of the highway near his patrol car when he was hit.

The incident happened around 12:30 p.m.

Allen was airlifted to the Regional One Medical Center in Memphis, Tenn., to undergo treatment for his injuries. He was scheduled for surgery on Tuesday of this week.

Two suspects in the stolen vehicle were taken into custody and transported to the Marshall County Jail to be processed.

The driver of the stolen green 1994 Honda was Robert Darnell Watkins, 36, of the Collierville, Tenn., area, Dickerson said. He was debriefed by agents with the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation and transported to DeSoto County, according to customary procedures when an officer is injured in the line of duty, he said.

Dickerson said Watkins will likely be facing attempted murder, felony fleeing and theft-related charges.

The passenger in the vehicle was also taken to the jail, debriefed and then released from custody on Monday, the sheriff said.

Dickerson said deploying spike strips in front of an approaching vehicle is one of the most dangerous things an officer can do.

"He's lucky to be alive," the sheriff said.