HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — Two teens reportedly led authorities on a chase Sunday morning that spanned multiple counties after "intentionally" hitting a Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office vehicle.
The sheriff's office said it all started around 1:30 a.m. at the Paddock Club Apartment Complex. 10 Tampa Bay couldn't identify an apartment complex by that name; however, the MAA Brandon is located on Paddock Club Drive in Brandon.
Deputies said they received reports of two people burglarizing vehicles within the apartment complex and deployed a K-9 and aviation unit to assist. The sheriff's office aviation unit reportedly spotted two 17-year-olds getting into an unreported stolen car and leaving the complex.
Deputies said they tried to pull the teens' car over as the teens left the apartment complex; however, instead of stopping, deputies said the teens "intentionally" struck the patrol cruiser. The deputy was not hurt.
The teens ultimately made their way to Interstate 4 and continued eastbound into Osceola County. Because the teens were driving across multiple counties, the sheriff's office called in reinforcements including the Florida Highway Patrol, Polk County Sheriff's Office and the Osceola County Sheriff's Office.
According to the sheriff's office, authorities "carefully" pursued the teens.
Eventually, the teens stopped the stolen car in the area of Royal Palm Drive and Toluca Drive in Kissimmee before fleeing on foot toward a residential area. Eventually, HCSO K-9 units tracked down one of the teens who was hiding under a blanket. The other teen was found hiding in a shed nearby.
A total of six vehicle burglaries were reported, the sheriff's office said. One teen faces multiple charges — aggravated fleeing to elude, aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer with a deadly weapon and grand theft of a motor vehicle. The other teen was charged with aggravated fleeing to elude.
"Amidst the criminal and reckless actions of these two suspects, our deputies displayed unmatched professionalism and determination," Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a statement. "Despite the deliberate strike on an HCSO deputy vehicle, our deputies’ commitment to the community's safety while apprehending the suspects never faltered."
"I am immensely proud of and thankful for our law enforcement partners for their seamless collaboration as these suspects fled across multiple jurisdictions.”
