Florida police used a PIT maneuver to end a vehicle chase with an accused car thief, but officers needed help from a K-9 to finally apprehend the suspect after nearly a half hour.
The incident happened at about just before 9:30 a.m. Aug. 11 after Ocala police spotted a blue Mazda that had been reported stolen earlier that day, the department stated in a social media post. The car's owner told police he not only forgot to lock the doors, but he also left the keys inside.
When officers tried to pull over the vehicle, the driver, Dale Shrewsbury, didn't stop and fled from police.
More officers from the department and nearby agencies—including the Marion County Sheriff's Office and Florida Fish and Wildlife police— joined the chase. Shrewsbury wouldn't stop and kept driving recklessly, running multiple cars off the road, smashing through fences, driving through lawns and hitting at least one law enforcement vehicle.
Finally, a Marion County sheriff's deputy performed a PIT maneuver to stop Shrewsbury's vehicle. The deputy's K-9, Jet, apprehended the suspect by clamping on to Shrewbury's pants, so he couldn't flee.
Shrewsbury is charged auto theft, aggravated fleeing and eluding and other counts. He was treated for injuries he suffered when Jet took him into custody. No other injuries were reported.
