FLORIDA POLICE FIRE AT SUSPECTS TRYING TO HIT OFFICER
The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office announced on Tuesday the arrests of several people accused of being involved in an organized car heist that ended with a police-involved shooting early Monday morning. Chief of detectives, Dwain Senterfitt, released information about the incident, saying that it took place during an attempted break-in at the Crest Chevrolet dealership on Merrill Road.
When officers arrived at the scene, they found two suspects who tried to get away, according police. They said the suspects then tried to drive a truck toward one of the officers in an effort to intentionally strike him with the vehicle, which they later learned had been stolen from a different car dealership earlier this month.
Officers fired several shots at the driver in an effort to stop him from hitting the other officer. "The officers, in an effort to protect Officer Clarks' life, shot at the suspects. The second officer involved was Officer D.E. Smith, who also followed several shots. The truck drove a short distance and then the occupants fled from the truck with one being apprehended at that time at the truck.
The patrol watch commander responded and conducted an investigation at the scene, and at that time there was no indication that any of the suspects had been struck by the police bullets," Senterfitt said. After an investigation, authorities learned that one suspect was hit by a bullet. They also learned three additional cars that were stolen from M&M Motors on Sunday were also involved in Monday's incident.
"In the course of yesterday's investigation, it was learned that one outstanding suspect that had been struck by one of those bullets with a minor wound to his hip. He was located and interviewed. He was arrested yesterday and charged like the other individuals with burglary and auto theft," Senterfitt said.
Rashad Butler, Dante Clarke and Fredrick Hughes are in police custody.
The officers involved in the incident, D.E. Smith and P.E. Clark, have not been placed on paid leave.
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