Jacksonville Sheriff's Officers Chased Stolen Truck, Ended w
Jacksonville Sheriff's Officers Chased Stolen Truck, Ended with Car Into Business
From FirstCoastNews.com
Quote:
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- What started as police chasing a suspect in a stolen truck, ended with a car crashing into the front of the Jenkins Quality Barbecue on Edgewood Avenue.
According to JSO Lt. Victor Pacheco, an officer in an unmarked cruiser was near the intersection of Edgewood and Commonwealth Avenues when he noticed a truck he thought was stolen.
The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office deputy began to tail the truck as he radioed for assistance. An off-duty unit, this time in a marked vehicle, responded, Pacheco said.
When the second officer arrived, the first officer had already pulled the Ford F-350 over.
As the second vehicle approached, Pacheco said the suspect revved the truck's engine and rammed the marked police vehicle twice before driving away. The officer in the marked vehicle was treated for minor injuries, according to Pacheco.
Officers chased the truck, which had two people inside, and eventually the truck ran into the back of a vehicle that was parked in the barbecue business' parking lot. The impact pushed the Honda through the double-door entry.
One suspect ran, and Pacheco said officers found him in the restroom at the McDonald's across the street. Officers found the second suspect in a nearby Taco Bell.
Police arrested both men and charged them with felony assault on an officer. They'll likely face other charges, as officers indicated they believed the truck also had been involved in a recent robbery.
The barbecue's manager said there were three employees inside the business at the time of the crash. None of the employees were hurt, but the manager said they were shaken.
Witness Raymond Klien said he couldn't believe his eyes when he saw the truck go flying by.
"Craziest thing I ever seen in my life. You see things like that all the time in the movies. You don't ever see anything like that right in front of you," he said.
This isn't the business's first time having to deal with property damage. Back in 2004, a tornado spawned by Tropical Storm Bonnie ripped through the restaurant. It took a year for it to reopen.
