VARNELL, Ga. — A Tennessee man is facing “numerous felony charges” following a high-speed chase that criss-crossed two counties, reached speeds of 120 mph and resulted in a Varnell Police Department officer firing his gun at the suspect, according to Varnell Police Chief Lyle Grant.

Grant says Aaron Patrick Brumlow of Soddy Daisy is on state felony probation in Tennessee. His charges were not immediately released.

The chase began Friday morning in Varnell, passed through Cohutta and Catoosa County and ended in Tunnel Hill. 

In a press release posted to the department’s Facebook page, Grant said Officer Scott Swilley responded to a shoplifting call at the Circle K at the intersection of Ga. Highway 2 and Cleveland Highway at about 5 a.m.

The white Toyota Camry driven by the suspect left the store before Swilley arrived. Grant says Swilley put on his blue lights and the driver initially stopped, but then sped away north on Cleveland Highway. Swilley chased after him as they reached speeds of 115 to 120 mph.

The driver of the Camry tried to elude the officer by turning onto side streets in Cohutta, still driving at high speeds. Grant’s press release says the vehicle went airborne a couple of times after passing over railroad tracks.

The chase continued on Cleveland Highway southbound where the suspect vehicle made a U-turn at North Hills Drive, causing Swilley’s patrol car to strike the Camry.

The chase again went back onto side streets in Cohutta, where the driver turned onto a dead end road in the StoneGate subdivision. The press release says the Camry appeared to stop and Swilley blocked the Camry with his vehicle and stepped out, drew his weapon and ordered the occupants to surrender.

“The suspect vehicle driver then made evasive maneuvers to escape, turning his vehicle into a weapon to be used against Officer Swilley in his attempt to escape. The suspect driver came within inches of striking Officer Swilley, at which time our officer in fear for his life discharged his service firearm towards the vehicle driver’s compartment,” Grant said.

The driver was able to get away.

The Camry was spotted by deputies from the Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office shortly after the shooting.

“The suspect went up into Catoosa County and came back into Whitfield County,” said Whitfield sheriff’s office Capt. Rick Swiney. “When he came back into Whitfield County, he was on Highway 201. He turned onto a side street in Tunnel Hill. At that point, one of our officers did a PIT (Pursuit Intervention Technique) maneuver and forced him into a ditch.”

Swiney says the driver was taken to the hospital and two female passengers were taken to the jail. He said he could not release the name of the passengers. Brumlow suffered a hand injury.

In his press release, Grant said that as is standard practice with officer-involved shootings, Swilley has been placed on administrative leave and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation has been asked to investigate.

GBI Special Agent in Charge Greg Ramey confirmed agents were on the scene but deferred other questions to local officials.