Photo by: wpbf
A car theft in Martin County Thursday ended with a violent crash and the suspect in the hospital.
Chief Deputy John Budensiek of the Martin County Sheriff’s Office said it began just after 3 p.m. at the Publix near the intersection of Cove Road and Federal Highway in Stuart.
A woman was walking out of the store with her car keys in her hand when she was attacked.
“Broad daylight, people around, witnesses around,” Budensiek said. “And he was brazen enough to walk up and snatch those keys out of her hand and take off.”
Budensiek said witnesses told deputies the guy sped south on Federal Highway before heading west on Bridge Road in Hobe Sound.
That’s where deputies started following and forced the vehicle off the road just a few miles east of I-95.
“The vehicle left the roadway, slid, rotated at least once up in the air and slammed into a tree,” Budensiek said.
The SUV suffered severe damage, but Budensiek said the suspect was able to crawl to safety before he was arrested.
He’s been identified as Carlos Manuel Lozada of New York, a man with a long criminal history.
He was taken to the hospital and is listed in serious condition.
Budensiek said the victim was shaken but unhurt.
“This is not how we want to return her vehicle, but we can replace a car. We can’t replace her,” Budensiek said. “We were able to stop this guy. Lord knows what he was going to do next. He’s shown through his criminal history he has no regard for people and their rights and their safety.”
Lozada is currently charged with strong-arm robbery, grand theft auto, and felony fleeing and eluding, but Budensiek said he could face more charges in the future.
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Source: wpbf
