A suspect in a car theft was shot during a brief chase early Thursday morning which involved Jefferson County Sheriff’s deputies and Adamsville Police officers.

According to Sheriff’s Office spokesman Sgt. Jack Self, the incident began at about 3:30 a.m. in the 5000 block of Corley Drive near Adamsville, when deputies responded to a call of a car theft in progress. After a description of the car was sent out, a deputy spotted the car near Oakleaf Circle.

The deputy pursued the car in a brief chase, then the suspect drove into a neighborhood and stopped the car. The deputy got out of his cruiser and issued verbal commands to the suspect, who then tried to speed away, driving the car toward the deputy. The deputy then fired a gunshot to protect himself and stop the stolen car.

The suspect then sped away, going another mile into the 2400 block of Scenic Drive. He then stopped when he saw an Adamsville patrol car in front of him. The suspect was then removed from the stolen car, where law enforcement officers learned that he had been hit in the knee by the shot fired by the deputy.

The suspect was then taken to UAB Hospital with injured described as not being life threatening.

Self said the suspect is a 33-year-old white male from Adamsville. He has not been identified pending filing of formal charges upon his release from the hospital, but Self said he has a criminal record that spans 11 years, and is also suspected in other vehicle thefts in the same area.

The suspect was arrested in April for theft, unlawful breaking and entering of a vehicle, attempting to elude and resisting arrest. His criminal record includes robbery, theft, domestic violence and drug charges.