BARTOW, Fla. — A man is facing charges after authorities say he led them on a high-speed chase through Polk County with a stolen car before ramming into three police vehicles.
In a press release from the city of Bartow, officials say police responded to a call regarding a black pickup truck that was stolen by way of "carjacking by threat" at around 3:15 p.m. Tuesday.
The truck was taken from the area of Conant Street and Highway 17 South.
Officials say the vehicle was spotted traveling at a high rate of speed five minutes after responding to the call.
Officers attempted a traffic stop by turning on their lights and siren, but the driver, 33-year-old Michael Jackson, reportedly did not stop and began fleeing the officers.
Bartow police say they continued following Jackson through various streets and were eventually joined by the Polk County Sheriff's Office and Florida Highway Patrol.
The pursuit ended at a dead end in the area of Polk Parkway when Jackson rammed the stolen truck into three Bartow PD vehicles, the news release reads. He was taken into custody at the scene. He will be transported to the Polk County Sheriff's Office jail book-in facility for processing.
No other damages were reported besides the three police cars and the stolen truck.
Jackson is facing multiple charges, including:
- Carjacking
- Fleeing to elude officers
- Aggravated battery upon a law enforcement officer (three counts)
- Resisting an officer without violence
- Driving with no valid driver's license
The investigation into this incident is ongoing.
