TROOPER WOUNDED DURING STRUGGLE

A half-hour car chase around Cape Girardeau County ended early Thursday with a Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper being shot by his own revolver after wrestling with a suspect who was arrested, authorities said.

Trooper Mark Winder was resting at home after receiving a superficial wound to the outside of his left forearm.

"He'll take a few days off to heal," said patrol Lt. George Ridens.

The chase began at 12:03 a.m. when a Cape Girardeau police officer saw a driver pull sharply in front of a tractor-trailer in the 700 block of South Kingshighway, police Cpl. Rick Schmidt said. Since the maneuver almost caused an accident, the officer attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver ignored the flashing lights and siren, Schmidt said.

Schmidt said 19-year-old David P. Carter of Sikeston, Mo., drove toward State Highway 74 and sped away from police at 65 mph. The pursuit was not considered a high-speed chase, he said. "We pick up people speeding on 74 at 65 miles an hour during broad daylight," said Schmidt.

As the suspect vehicle left the city limits, officers from the Highway Patrol and Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department continued the chase.

The Highway Patrol reported Winder pursued Carter, who had 15- and 16-year-old passengers, through the communities of Dutchtown, Blomeyer and Delta. The car chase ended when Carter lost control of his vehicle on Cape Girardeau County Road 220 and it came to a stop in a ditch, the patrol said.

Carter ran behind a residence and lay flat in a wheat field, and when Winder spotted him he pulled out his gun and told Carter to put his hands in the air, the patrol said. As Winder approached, Carter jumped to his feet, and the two struggled as Winder attempted to arrest him, the patrol said. Both men fell to the ground, and the revolver accidentally discharged, officers said.

Winder was taken by ambulance to St. Francis Medical Center, where he was treated and released.

Carter was arrested and charged with felony possession of marijuana, resisting arrest, two counts of child endangerment and 10 misdemeanor traffic violations.

It is possible that more charges will be filed, said Scott Lipke, Cape Girardeau County assistant prosecutor.

Carter is being held on a $35,000 cash-only bond in the Cape Girardeau County jail.

Since a firearm was discharged, a report of the incident will be filed pending further review of the incident, said Lt. Tim Hull of the patrol.