BRANDON, Fla. — Deputies arrested a wanted man on drug-related charges after he rammed his car into a law enforcement vehicle while trying to get away, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.
Jabari Walden, 34, faces several charges including trafficking in fentanyl, possession of a controlled substance and, now, additional charges related to his arrest on Wednesday.
The sheriff's office says Walden was seen around 8:30 a.m. getting into a car in the Kensington Lakes community. As detectives responded with their emergency lights on, he "intentionally accelerated" and crashed into a parked car and an unmarked sheriff's office cruiser.
The deputy was not hurt, however, the sheriff in a statement recalled the incident earlier this month in which a 28-year-old Ralph Bouzy allegedly ambushed deputies as they responded to a call for help from his mother. Video showed a car hitting two sheriff's office deputies.
Both continue to recover from their injuries.
"It's an unmitigated tragedy when those sworn to protect and serve face intentional harm while doing their job. The anger, heartbreak, and disappointment run deep, especially when, less than a month ago, we witnessed an unsettling attack on two of our deputies," Sheriff Chad Chronister said in the statement.
"This is just another stark reminder of the dangers our law enforcement officers face daily. Their resilience in the face of such adversity demonstrates their dedication to protecting our communities from those who seek to destroy our peace and safety."
Walden's car became inoperable after the crash, and deputies were able to make an arrest.
Deputies say he was found in possession of at least 30 grams of fentanyl.