The incident started at about 2:30 a.m. when a police officer spotted a stolen SUV near Nebraska Avenue and Lake Avenue with four suspects inside. After a brief pursuit, the officer notified air service, and the TPD helicopter followed the SUV from the air. The SUV traveled north and stopped behind the First Presbyterian Church of Tampa at 4307 Humphrey Street. The suspects fled north into a wooded area with deep, swampy water.
Two suspects were quickly apprehended. TPD officers followed the other suspects into the woods with K-9 police dogs. One of the suspects attempted to drown a police dog and fight with an officer, who defended himself by shooting the suspect. The suspect was taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital with life threatening injuries.
Both the officer and the police dog are being checked out, but did not suffer serious injuries.
TPD established a perimeter around the wooded area and for hours the fourth suspect refused to come out. At about 6:25 a.m. the suspect was apprehended in the woods.