Volusia sergeant grazed by bullet during chase released from hospital

DELTONA, Fla. – A Volusia County sergeant was grazed on his forehead by a bullet Thursday during a chase that began after a woman was carjacked outside her home in Deltona, Sheriff Mike Chitwood said.

The carjacking occurred in the 2500 block of Ludlow Street in Deltona, and the chase ended on State Road 44 near I-4.

Deputies said the woman got out of her pickup truck and was headed into her house when the gunman told her that he needed her pickup truck and drove away. The woman was not injured, deputies said.

“He had the gun and waved it at me to get out. So I said ‘It’s OK just let the kids get out the car,’ so the kids got out of the car and he took away with the car,” the victim said.

Sheriff's officials said deputies chased the stolen pickup and at some point shots were fired.

The sergeant has been released from the hospital.

Tomorrow is his birthday.

He's been a deputy with the county for 30 years.

The sheriff's office posted a photo of Sgt. Tommy Dane's hat after he was grazed.

Chitwood said this is the luckiest day during his career as a law enforcement officer. 

 “A millimeter lower and Sgt. Dane is dead,” Chitwood said.

The suspected carjacker suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was taken to a hospital where he died, according to Chitwood.

The suspect was later identified as Phillip Thomas Marsh.

Investigators said Marsh had been reported missing and suicidal earlier this week.

Deputies said he was known to act violently toward law enforcement and has made threats of "suicide by cop."