RSSRobbery Leads to High-Speed Chase, Crash, and Two Hospitalizations in Sumter County
An armed robbery and a high speed chase resulted in a crash and multiple arrests within Sumter County on Saturday, April 27th. According to preliminary reports from the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office, the events leading to the incident were first reported sometime during the early morning of Saturday after a Burger King located along the 3600 block of Wedgewood Lane inside of The Villages was robbed by at least two individuals. It was not until later that afternoon that an officer driving a marked Sheriff’s Office patrol car located the vehicle believed to have been used by the people involved with the robbery.
This vehicle, a silver Chrysler Sebring with a black convertible top, was spotted by the officer along Warm Springs Avenue in the town of Coleman. It is not clear if the car was parked or if it was driving at the time, but the deputy reported that after they attempted to initiate a traffic stop, the car sped away at an extremely high and dangerous rate of speed.
The deputy in question decided to chase the car. While it is not necessary that officers engage in high-speed pursuits (and in many cases they are encouraged not to follow a speeding suspect due to the increased danger to the civilian population who might be in proximity to the event), this deputy decided that the severity of the crime – robbing a Burger King – warranted a severe response. The two cars then raced down numerous roadways, eventually coming to the intersection of State Road 44 and Morse Boulevard. At this point, the patrol car and the Sebring were close to one another, and the driver of the Sebring decided it would be a good idea to ram the patrol car.
The logic of this move was refuted when, after striking the officer’s vehicle, the Sebring itself became completely disabled. When the car rolled to a stop, numerous officers were on hand to begin making arrests. In addition, the injuries sustained by several people within the vehicle as a result of the collision with the patrol car required medical attention from paramedics and EMTs who were at the area. The report stated that on adult and one juvenile within the car were injured badly enough to require additional medical services.
Sources:
James O. Cunningham
Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.
Mr. Cunningham is an excellent and knowledgeable attorney.