Sedgwick County deputy fires shot during attempted traffic stop

A Sedgwick County sheriff’s deputy fired a shot during an arrest early Thursday morning, authorities said.

Deputies attempted to stop a gold Pontiac Grand Am for traffic violations near Harry and Seneca shortly after midnight, Lt. Lin Dehning said in a statement. The driver refused to stop, and a pursuit began along residential streets in the area.

The driver stopped near Baldwin and Palisade and deputies tried to talk him out of the Grand Am, Dehning said. The driver then attempted to turn his vehicle around, driving around one patrol vehicle, almost striking a deputy, and ramming into another patrol vehicle, disabling it, Dehning said.

The incident prompted the 25-year-old deputy who had been nearly struck to fire a shot, which struck the driver’s windshield.

“The suspect backed up then continued to maneuver his vehicle backwards and forwards while ignoring commands from the deputies,” he said in the statement.

The pursuit resumed and the driver jumped from his car near Zimmerly and Water, Dehning said. Deputies chased him on foot and eventually arrested him, Dehning said. There were no injuries.

Anthony R. Edwards, 24, of Wichita, was booked into the Sedgwick County Jail on suspicion of aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer, criminal damage to property, possession of narcotics and felony flee and elude.

The deputy who fired has been an employee of the Sheriff’s Office for two years, Dehning said.

Contributing: Matt Riedl of The Eagle

This story was originally published July 30, 2015 at 9:34 AM with the headline "Sedgwick County deputy fires shot during attempted traffic stop."