HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office arrested a man who they said struck several deputies with his vehicle "in an attempt to avoid arrest."
At around 5:30 p.m. on Monday, HCSO deputies attempted to stop 28-year-old Sean Bolton — who was in a Chrysler 300 — for illegal window tint and failing to stop at a stop sign. The sheriff's office said Bolton refused to pull over and fled the scene.
Authorities were eventually able to track down Bolton near Carriage Pointe Drive in Gibsonton and started to deploy stop sticks.
That's when Bolton aimed his vehicle at a deputy standing on the edge of the roadway. The deputy was able to avoid getting hit after taking "evasive maneuvers," according to the sheriff's office.
They continued to follow Bolton before eventually attempting to intercept his car. Bolton then rammed his car into two deputies' vehicles and continued to drive away, the sheriff's office said.
The pursuit caused one deputy to strike a tree, HSCO said. Another deputy's vehicle crashed into a backyard fence. That collision caused a fence post to crash through the window, narrowly missing the deputy, the sheriff's office said.
It ended when deputies performed a PIT maneuver, according to the sheriff's office.
Three deputies sustained minor injuries and received treatment at Tampa General Hospital.
"This individual had multiple opportunities to do the right thing and pull over, but instead, he chose to continue his reckless and dangerous behavior, showing a complete disregard for the safety of our deputies and the community members around him," Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a statement. "His actions were irresponsible and could have had far more tragic consequences."
Officers eventually arrested Bolton. He's now facing multiple charges including aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer with a motor vehicle, aggravated fleeing to elude law enforcement and driving while license suspended.