A sheriff's deputy fell from heat exhaustion during a foot pursuit of a suspect allegedly involved in a shoplifting case at Walmart near Massaponax in Spotsylvania County today.

Mike Harvey, captain for the Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Office, said the deputy called for water while in a wooded area, and shortly after he pushed his radio's emergency button to alert first responders.

Harvey said the deputy was unconscious when state police and other first responders found him in a wooded area behind American Family Fitness, and he remained unconscious until he got to Mary Washington Hospital. 

"He is conscious and talking now," Harvey said.

Late Sunday morning, the 911 center got a call about a shoplifting case at Walmart in Southpoint II and four suspects were involved. Three of the suspects were female and one was male. One female was caught immediately, the two other women attempted to run but were detained, and the male ran into the woods, Harvey said

The male suspect led deputies on a long chase into the woods. At one point the suspect tried to cross Interstate 95, where a state police trooper caught him, Harvey said. Deputies found the injured deputy in the woods and they had help getting him to the ambulance. The incident lasted for more than three hours, and traffic was stalled on both U.S. 1 and I-95. in the early afternoon.

All four suspects are in custody and charges are pending for felony shoplifting, Harvey said.