GLASGOW – A suspect involved in a high-speed chase reached for a police officer’s gun multiple times during a confrontation before the gun went off, wounding a Barren County deputy, according to courtroom testimony Monday.

A preliminary hearing was held in Barren District Court in the case against Jonathan David Shelton, 37, of Smyrna, Tenn.

Shelton is charged with numerous offenses stemming from the Feb. 23 incident, including first-degree assault (police officer) for the injury suffered by Deputy Joseph Ford of the Barren County Sheriff’s Office.

Ford was shot once in the neck by a bullet fired from Glasgow Police Department Officer Zane Greer’s service weapon.

GPD Officer Trevor Morrison said Shelton was combative with Greer and made several attempts to grab Greer’s gun before it discharged.

Greer was placed on paid administrative leave after the incident, a customary step taken during investigations of officer-involved shootings.

Ford’s injury was not considered to be life-threatening, and he was taken to T.J. Samson Community Hospital in Glasgow and then to University of Louisville Hospital, where he was released Feb. 25.

The incident began when Greer saw Shelton’s 2009 PT Cruiser traveling at 118 mph on the Cumberland Parkway, Morrison said.

The pursuit continued east on the parkway before Shelton exited at Glasgow, where Morrison said he was waiting at the end of the Exit 11 ramp at Scottsville Road.

Morrison said Shelton’s car came to a stop at the red light where he left his cruiser and gave the suspect commands to come out of the car.

“The subject took off at a high rate of speed, squalling his tires and running the red light,” Morrison said.

The pursuit continued on several Glasgow streets, during which Ford became involved.

“The subject slammed his brakes in front of me to get me to collide with him,” Morrison said, adding that he was able to avoid crashing.

Shelton’s car turned onto St. Mary’s Court, a dead-end street, and he attempted to drive between two houses, but was unable to do so because of a vehicle parked in the driveway and he ended up striking a building, Morrison said.

Greer approached the car and attempted to remove Shelton from the vehicle, and Shelton resisted.

“(Shelton) kept trying to retrieve Greer’s gun from his hands and Greer pulled his gun back to keep the weapon away,” Morrison said.

At the time the weapon discharged, Morrison said he did not know where Greer’s hands were on the gun.

Kentucky State Police is investigating the shooting.

Shelton, who is in Barren County Corrections Center under a $150,000 cash bond, is charged with first-degree assault (police officer), third-degree assault (police officer), six counts of first-degree wanton endangerment (police officer), first-degree possession of a controlled substance, first-degree fleeing or evading police, operating a motor vehicle while under the influence, speeding 26 mph or more over the speed limit, reckless driving, driving too fast for traffic conditions, disregarding a traffic control device, improper start from parked position, failure to illuminate head lamps, disregarding a stop sign, failure to or improper signal, resisting arrest, failure to produce insurance card and operating on a suspended/revoked license.