POLK COUNTY, Fla. — A "crime wave" overnight Tuesday ended with one man in the hospital after he shouted at a deputy "I've got a gun, I've got a gun" while trying to run away, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said.
"He chose for us to take him into custody that way, we didn't choose to take him into custody that way," Judd said. "That was his choice. That's on him. And he caught some lead as a result."
It all started on Old Tampa Highway when 25-year-old Neil Bourcy of Mulberry and a friend stopped at a gas station.
Judd said Bourcy pretended to fill his car's tires with air but instead stole another person's car. And, despite others at the gas station trying to stop him, he got away.
His friend also drove away in the car the pair arrived in, Judd added.
Just a short time later, deputies found the red car — the one that Bourcy's friend reportedly drove away from the gas station in — abandoned at Southern and Hickory Street in West Lakeland. That friend hasn't been identified or found.
Meanwhile, just a few streets over, deputies found the stolen car on Ruby Street also abandoned.
According to Judd, Bourcy found himself at a mobile home park located at 1500 West Highland Street in Lakeland. There, Judd explained, Bourcy acted like he had a gun in his pocket in order to get car keys from someone.
"As our suspect is acting like he's got a gun, when they refuse to give him the keys, he takes his finger out [of his pocket] and says 'bang' and walks off. That will become important later on," Judd said.
Bourcy then tried to steal car keys from another person in the mobile home park, according to Judd. When that person refused, Bourcy cut the person with a knife, he added.
The person had to get emergency surgery as a result of their injuries and is intubated, according to the sheriff.
That's when, Judd said, Bourcy moved on to Josephine Street, which is in the same area, and managed this time to steal a white car.
Eventually, deputies located the stolen white car on U.S. 98 just south of Lakeland and followed Bourcy northbound on Combee Road, according to Judd.
Bourcy then led deputies to Denver Street off Main Street on the east side of Lakeland before getting "stuck," the sheriff said.
"So he says to himself, 'Self, I got a problem,'" Judd said. "'I can no longer flee in this vehicle.' And he jumps out and he runs."
By this time, the sheriff's office's aviation unit was over the area and tracking Bourcy.
Deputy Sheriff Warren, who was by himself, was contacted by the aviation unit about Bourcy's location. When Warren caught up to Bourcy, he reportedly took off running.
As the chase continued, at some point Bourcy screamed at the deputy "I've got a gun, I've got a gun, I've got a gun," Judd said.
"Well when you tell us you have a gun, we're gonna take you at your word," he continued.
According to Judd, when the deputy caught up with Bourcy, who was trying to get over an electrified fence, Bourcy pulled out a cell phone and pointed it at the deputy.
The deputy started shooting at Bourcy and fired his weapon seven times, Judd said.
Bourcy was taken into custody and transported to the hospital. He is in critical condition but is expected to survive, according to the sheriff's office.
No deputies were hurt.
According to the sheriff, Bourcy has been arrested at least nine times in Pennsylvania and Florida for charges ranging from drug-related to robbery and burglary.
You can watch the full press conference here.