Disturbing footage shows moment police officer is beaten into critical condition while pursuing suspect
Joe Yates
Featured Image Credit: WBIR Channel 10/YouTube
A police officer fell into a critical condition after allegedly being beaten with a rock on live TV.
Deputy Sheriff Dalton Swanger was attending to a 911 report of someone complaining that shots were fired in a residential area of Knoxville, Tennessee, on Saturday night (June 21).
He was accompanied by the TV crew of On Patrol: Live, as well as a few colleagues. The suspect Christopher Hensley then ran into the wooded area behind his home in Powell.
The officers can then be heard shouting 'Sheriff's office!', with their weapons drawn as they believed the 44-year-old was armed.
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With the suspect responding with swears, Swanger approached where he was and suddenly collapsed to the ground.
"The entire studio went silent as we watched what happened next. His mates dragging him to safety to render aid…as Dalton tried to regain his feet says, 'I’m going to be heavy'," co-host of On Patrol: Live, Tom Rizzo explained in a statement on Facebook.
Hensley has since been charged with the attempted second-degree murder of Swanger, aggravated assault on a first responder - domestic assault, possession of a firearm with intent to go armed, as well as manufacturing, delivering, selling and possession of a controlled substance.
Following the assault, Swanger was placed in intensive care and a GoFundMe page was subsequently set up which has raised over $75,000 at the time of writing, to 'help alleviate the financial burden due to unable to work his second jobs, family missing work and unforeseen expenses'.
It read: "On the night of June 21, 2025, Deputy Swanger bravely responded to a 911 call on Stanley Road, only to face an attack that left him injured.
"Deputy Swanger has dedicated his life to protecting our community, and now it's our turn to stand by him and his loved ones in their time of need."
Updates on his welfare have been provided by the Knox County Sheriff's Office, which details that he is beginning his recovery - although he still remains in intensive care as of yesterday.
"Deputy Swanger remains in the Trauma ICU; his condition is critical but stable. Visitors have been further restricted as he needs to rest," it shared on its Facebook page.
While Sheriff Tom Spangler added: "Our thoughts and prayers are with Deputy Swanger and his family during this challenging time. We are committed to thoroughly investigating this matter and are utilizing all available resources to apprehend the individual responsible."