A late Friday night chase that began south of Cabool ended when the driver killed himself, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department said.
Authorities said Barry Wedge, 42, of Cabool, was pronounced dead at Vanzant in northeast Douglas County. He exchanged gunfire with law officers multiple times during the pursuit before ending his own life.
Cabool police attempted to stop Wedge, who they thought was impaired, before a chase ensued down Highway 181 and then west on Highway 76.
Douglas County Sheriff Chris Degase said at times Wedge would stop his car sideways in the roadway and fire at officers.
Faced with spike strips on the roadway near Highways 76 and 95, Wedge opted to turn his truck through a gate into a field. From there, he drove in circles and exchanged gunfire with Douglas County deputy Nathan Long.
“The results of the autopsy revealed that the suspect died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head,” Degase said. “There were no rounds from either the sheriff’s office, deputy Long or the Cabool police officers found in the suspect.”
Officers involved have been in placed on standard paid-administrative leave as the investigation continues, Degase said. Long sustained some injuries from shotgun pellets in a leg. It did not penetrate the skin, Degase said.
Degase said Wedge had recently been interviewed by the state patrol regarding a North Dakota homicide.