A Tampa man reportedly rammed into a police cruiser and then sped off early Saturday morning. But he didn’t get far before he was taken into custody.
An officer with the St. Petersburg Police Department was parked on the side of 2nd Avenue North completing paperwork when, around 1:25 a.m., the officer’s car was struck by another vehicle, according to an arrest affidavit.
After the crash, the driver, later identified as 26-year-old S S, reportedly continued to press his foot on the gas, accelerating into the patrol car and pushing it to the side.
S then drove off heading west on 2nd Avenue North, near 5th Street North, police reported.
However, officials said the front right tire on S’s vehicle popped off of the rim almost immediately after he took off, leaving his vehicle disabled on 2nd Avenue North.
Despite that, authorities said S continued to try to accelerate and left multiple skid marks on the pavement.
The officer who was struck got out of the cruiser and went up to S’s car. After removing S from the vehicle, the officer reported noticing signs of intoxication.
According to the arrest affidavit, S’s eyes were bloodshot and watery, and he had an odor of alcohol on his breath.
Police said S refused to take a breathalyzer test but showed further signs of impairment during a field sobriety test.
He was arrested for leaving the scene of a crash involving property damage and DUI involving property damage.
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Source: wfla
