A pursuit from Coffee County, Tenn., into Franklin County on Wednesday ended with patrol cars forcing the vehicle to stop, but the man they were chasing reportedly killed himself before officers could get him into custody.

Franklin County authorities said the man was Tullahoma, Tenn., resident Timothy James McMillan, 30.

Franklin County Sheriff Tim Fuller said Thursday that dispatchers in his county around 10:30 to 10:45 p.m. CDT Wednesday were contacted by Coffee County authorities who were in pursuit of a vehicle headed across the county line toward Decherd on State Highway 127.

Coffee County authorities had attempted to pull McMillan over for suspicion of DUI and reckless driving, Fuller said. Franklin County deputies and Decherd police officers moved to intercept and joined the pursuit.

Oct 21, 2011-- Franklin County Sheriff Tim Fuller.

"Shortly thereafter, one of our units was sideswiped by the suspect's vehicle," Fuller said. "He was running at an excessive speed, upwards of 100 mph."

Fuller said five patrol cars were involved in the incident — two from Coffee County, two from Franklin County and one from Decherd.

When McMillan reached Decherd, "Franklin County and Coffee County units put him off the road," the sheriff said. "Shortly after they put him off the road, almost immediately, officers got out to try to get him apprehended and he shot himself in the head."

Fuller said McMillan also had outstanding warrants for violation of probation out of Coffee and Rutherford counties and was driving on a suspended license. A "variety" of drugs was found in McMillan's car, Fuller said.

Preliminary results from an autopsy performed Thursday indicated that McMillan took his own life. Officers did not fire their weapons during the incident, Fuller said.

Fuller said McMillan was on his cellphone with his sister during the pursuit telling her "that he was not going back to jail and he'd probably die tonight," Fuller said.

Fuller said McMillan had little or no criminal history in Franklin County, though the sheriff said McMillan had a lengthy history with authorities in Coffee and Rutherford counties.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is looking into the suicide aspect of the incident, Fuller said.

Contact staff writer Ben Benton at bbenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6569. Follow him on Twitter @BenBenton or at www.facebook.com/benbenton1.

Contact staff writer Ben Benton at bbenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6569. Follow him on Twitter @BenBenton or at www.facebook.com/benbenton1.

This story was updated Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018, at 11:59 p.m.