| A man is behind bars after an early morning clash with police which resulted in gunfire and a high speed pursuit.
Charleston police pulled over Jonathan Gillispie 39, of Charleston, shortly after midnight. The traffic stop happened on Charleston's West Side near the intersection of Westmoreland Drive and Crescent Road. The officer had exited his cruiser when, according to investigators, Gillispie accelerated, turned his vehicle, and came back toward the officer in an apparent attempt to run him down.
"The officer was in eminent danger of being struck by the vehicle," said Charleston Police Lt. Autumn Davis. "He discharged his weapon in defense of his life."
Nobody was hit by the gunfire and investigators would not say how many shots were fired or how many hit the vehicle. Police gave chase and the pursuit stretched all the way into Boone County before ending in a collision.
"The pursuit went into Boone County at which time one of our cruisers and the suspect's vehicle collided. " Davis explained. "Two officers received medical treatment for minor injuries. Mr. Gillispie and a female passenger in his vehicle were also treated for minor injuries."
Gillispie was taken to jail after being charged with felony fleeing, transferring and receiving stolen property, possession of a stolen vehicle, and attempted murder of a police officer.
It's not Gillispie's first brush with the law. He was driving a stolen vehicle with stolen plates and was already wanted on capias warrants for unrelated incidents in Kanawha including transferring and receiving stolen vehicle and possession of methamphetamine.
He had a 2016 arrest for fleeing, obstruction, and reckless driving. He was arrested on aggravated robbery charges in 1999 and was later convicted. Police say he has multiple felony arrests in Boone Count, including escape.
"Mr. Gillispie has a very detailed criminal history," said Davis.
He's in the lodged in the South Central Regional Jail. The woman with him was not charged. An investigation into the incident continues. | 
