Bell County deputy killed trying to stop vehicle involved in chase on I-35
TEMPLE, Texas April 26 2020 A Bell County sheriff’s deputy was killed early Sunday morning while attempting to deploy spikes during a vehicle pursuit.
The sheriff’s office said Deputy John Andrew Rhoden, 31, was killed on I-35 in Temple at 1:45 a.m. as he assisted the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office with the vehicle pursuit.
Officials said Deputy Rhoden was attempting to deploy tire-deflating spike strips on I-35 when he was struck and killed by a vehicle.
The Bell County Sheriff’s Office did not say whether the vehicle that struck and killed the deputy was the vehicle being pursued.
The body of Deputy Rhoden will be escorted to the Dallas County Medical Examiner’s Office in Dallas by members of the Bell County Sheriff’s Office.
The investigation into the pursuit is being conducted by the Temple Police Department, with the assistance of the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Bell County Sheriff’s Office.
Rhoden was born in Norwood, Massachusetts and Deputy Rhoden started his career with the Bell County Sheriff’s Department in June of 2010.
He was promoted to Field Deputy in August of 2014 and was currently assigned to the midnight shift Patrol Division.
Deputy Rhoden’s Father, Michael Rhoden, was also an employee of the Bell County Sheriff’s Office as a Correctional Officer from March of 1996 until March of 1998.
Rhoden Sr. left to further his career in law enforcement with the Belton Police Department and rose to the rank of Deputy Chief before retiring.
KWTX
