FLORENCE - An argument between a husband and wife resulted in the woman being cut, and the man jailed on domestic violence charges after he led police on a 10-mile high-speed chase Wednesday morning.

Charles Nixon, 40, 307 N. Crown St., Florence, is charged with domestic violence assault third-degree, domestic violence third-degree menacing and domestic violence interfering with an emergency call.

All three charges are misdemeanors.

Nixon, a TimesDaily employee, is accused of cutting his wife, Karen Nixon, during an argument at their residence at 11:40 a.m., police said.

“There is still a lot of questions we’re trying to clear up,” Florence police detective Lt. Eric Nichols said.

He said Karen Nixon was cut on the arm and taken to Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital where she was treated and released.

Reports indicate Karen Nixon drove to a business near the intersection of Franklin Street and Huntsville Road where she was met by an ambulance and police.

Police said after the incident Nixon left the residence and led police from three departments on a chase, through Muscle Shoals and into Tuscumbia before he was stopped behind BookSmart off John Aldridge Street just west of Covenant Christian School.

Police said at times speed exceeded 60-65 mph in residential areas and in the business district of Muscle Shoals.

Investigators said Karen Nixon was cut while she and her husband were fighting over a knife.

“According to statements, after (she was cut) on the arm, he said he was going to leave and he went into the house to get his gun,” Florence police detective Kevin Jackson said.

“When he came back outside, they started fighting over the gun and while they were fighting the gun went off.”

Nichols said no one was injured by the gunshot.

Nixon was brought to the Florence Police Station and interviewed, charged and placed in the Lauderdale County Detention Center.

Tom Smith can be reached at 256-740-5757 or tom.smith@TimesDaily.com.