Paducah Man Arrested, Deputy Hurt in Pursuit

A Paducah man faces a long list of charges, and a deputy has been injured after a late-night police pursuit through McCracken County.

The McCracken County Sheriff's Office says a deputy attempted to pull over a vehicle on Oaks Road near Old Benton Road for a traffic violation at around 11:20 pm Tuesday. The driver, 37-year-old Bruce Tunnell fled south on Oaks Road.

Deputies pursued Tunnell to the Graves County Line, east to KY 131 where Tunnell turned back toward McCracken County. They chased him onto Old Benton Road and into Paducah on Irvin Cobb Drive. Deputy Todd Ray deployed spike strips on KY 284 near Stonegate Lane, and Tunnell's vehicle veered toward him. Ray jumped out of the way and injured his right leg.

The vehicle Tunnell was driving, which deputies determined had been stolen from the parking lot of Buffalo Wind Wings, was finally incapacitated by a spike strip. It then went into a ditch off Savoy Circle.

A foot pursuit began, and Tunnell was eventually taken into custody.

Tunnell faces several charges, including speeding, disregarding a traffic control device, disregarding a stop sign, fleeing or evading police, 1st degree wanton endangerment, aggravated DUI, and possession of an open alcohol container in a vehicle. Deputies said Tunnell will also be charged with 1st degree assault.