OCALA, Florida -- A man who Ocala police officials said stole a state trooper's vehicle at gunpoint was apprehended after leading authorities on a chase that ended in Orlando.
Ocala Police Department Detective Jessica Gago said in her report that Morris Eliot Moore seemed remorseful and told her he was having trouble since his release from prison.
Moore told the detective that he was stabbed and raped while in prison. After the interview, Gago charged Moore with armed robbery, armed carjacking and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
State records show Moore was sentenced in Hillsborough County in June 2004 for multiple offenses that included armed burglary, kidnapping and robbery. Released from prison on Oct. 6, 2020, Moore was placed on 10 years probation.
Gago reported she was called shortly after midnight on Aug. 17 to the Circle K gas station at 3873 S.W. College Road.
A Florida Highway Patrol trooper, whose name was not released, told the detective he was westbound on State Road 200, stopped at a red light, when a vehicle hit his car from behind.
The trooper said he drove to the nearest corner and pulled over. The driver of the other vehicle also drove to the corner. The FHP official said both of them got out of their vehicles and looked at the damage.
The FHP official said the other driver pulled out a handgun, pointed it at him and chambered a round. The gunman then ordered the trooper to go to his car. The trooper said he gave the armed man his Apple watch, wallet and car keys.
The gunman allowed the law enforcement official to leave but took the trooper's vehicle. The trooper ran to the store for help.
Law enforcement officials were able to track the vehicle using OnStar. A Marion County Sheriff's Office helicopter was able to track the vehicle and notified authorities on the direction of the stolen vehicle.
The pursuit started on Interstate 75 and entered into Orange County. OnStar was able to stop the vehicle at West Colonial Drive and Deer Isle. The man, later identified as Moore, got out of the car, ran and later jumped into a nearby pond.
Officials said Moore began swimming and they briefly lost him. A K-9 unit found Moore in the water underneath a dock. He was taken into custody and transported to Adventhealth hospital.
Contact Austin L. Miller at 867-4118, [email protected] or @almillerosb.
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