LACIE SILVA – Editor
Off-duty Marion County Deputy Chayce Ladd was wounded when another officer’s service weapon was fired as he tried to wrestle it from the grasp of a patient at Erlanger Sequatchie Emergency Room (ESER).
The suspect, Lesley Keeter, was a patient who was already in custody of law enforcement when he took the service weapon away from another officer. He now faces new charge as result of the hospital incident. Ladd suffered minor injuries when the weapon discharged.
Deputy Ladd reported that he was at ESER on Feb. 4 with a family member when a commotion began and the attending nurse rushed to Deputy Ladd for help.
“He has a gun, he has his gun,” a nurse yelled, prompting Ladd to run toward the sound of the commotion. Upon arrival, he found the patient, Keeter, wearing shackles around his feet and attempting to remove the other officer’s firearm from its holster. The officer struggled with Keeter to keep the sidearm in its place.
In an attempt to maintain control, Deputy Ladd assisted by grabbing the gun as well but Keeter managed to free the weapon. Deputy Ladd threw several strikes at the suspect and took hold of the gun with both hands. Keeter maintained his own grip and pulled the trigger, the blast sending powder fragments into Deputy Ladd’s fingers, causing several small abrasions to his left index finger and right thumb.
Deputy Ladd wrestled the firearm away from Keeter before forcing him to the ground and handcuffing him. The nursing staff was able to treat Deputy Ladd’s minor injuries while Dunlap Police Department Detectives and Sequatchie County Deputies and Detectives responded to the scene.
The Marion Tribune – February 15, 2024
