9/15/18 Cherokee County, SC – Suspicious Person Call At Mary Black Gaffney Hospital – Woman Steals Cherokee Deputy’s Patrol Car – Pursuit – Spike Strips – Crashes Into Spartanburg Deputy’s Car – Injured Woman

September 15, 2018

www.wyf4.com

A call about a suspicious person at an Upstate hospital led to the theft of a patrol car, a two-county pursuit, a crash and the arrest of a 54-year-old woman, according to Cherokee County Sheriff Steve Mueller.

Mueller said a deputy was called just after 6:30 a.m. Saturday to Mary Black Gaffney Hospital about a suspicious person. When the deputy went into the emergency room waiting area to speak with the person, a woman jumped into the deputy’s patrol car and drove away, Mueller said.

A Gaffney police officer saw the patrol car on U.S. Highway 29 moments after it was reported stolen. As the officer pursued the stolen car, it crashed into another vehicle and kept going, Mueller said.

The chase continued through Spartanburg County and into Union County on U.S. Highway 176, where police used spike strips, causing the patrol car to crash into a Spartanburg County deputy’s car, Mueller said.

The suspect, later identified as Kim Marie Dye, of Gaffney, was taken to the hospital for treatment of minor injuries, Mueller said. He said no deputies were injured in the chase or crash.

Mueller said the South Carolina Highway Patrol is also investigating the crash, and multiple charges from several agencies are expected.