A man was shot and killed by Plant City police Thursday morning following a very strange 911 call.
The incident started with a 911 call that could have been made by the dead man, said police. The call came in around 5 a.m. by a man who said he was being followed for two hours and needed police service.
Responding officers searched for the car, and eventually found one speeding down the road. The driver of that car tried to run a responding officer off the road at one point.
Officers were able to deflate the suspect’s car tires, but that didn’t stop the driver until he lost control and crashed near the BP Gas station on East Alsobrook Street near Park Road, northeast of Alexander Street and Airport Road in Plant City.
Police surrounded the car and told the driver to get out and show his hands. Plant City Police Sgt. Al Van Duyne told the Tampa Bay Times, the man “attempted to go inside the driver’s side rear door to retrieve an unknown object.”
Two officers then opened fire fearing for their lives. The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene.
The object the driver was reaching for is still unknown. No officers were injured in this incident.
Police say the driver was alone in the car, but the mobile phone which the initial 911 call was made from was found inside the dead man’s car.
It is believed the driver made the call himself and it is still trying to be determined why. During the 911 call there were sounds of commotion, including crying, screaming and grunting.
The caller ended the call and police tried to reach the number again but failed to do so.
Stay with News Talk Florida as more information becomes available.
