The driver and his passenger wrecked the vehicle in Polk County after evading Plant City and Lakeland police.
According to the Plant City Police Department, a driver of a stolen 2012 Kia Forte allegedly intentionally struck an officer Tuesday, Feb. 7, when the officer attempted to stop the vehicle.
The Kia Forte was initially reported stolen to the Lakeland Police Department Thursday, Feb. 2.
Following the aggravated assault on the officer, the driver fled the location in the vehicle, according to police reports. A vehicle pursuit was initiated in Plant City during which time several attempts to stop the vehicle were ignored by the driver. The pursuit continued onto eastbound Interstate 4 toward Lakeland. The pursuit ended in the area of Memorial Boulevard.
A traffic stop was later attempted by an officer from the Lakeland Police Department, and the driver again failed to stop, according to police reports. The driver later wrecked the vehicle in Polk County, and the driver was taken into custody after a brief struggle with police.
A female passenger was removed from the vehicle and taken to the Lakeland Regional Medical Center (LRMC) with an unknown severity of injury. After being taken into custody, the driver was also transported to LRMC also with an unknown severity of injury.
The driver will remain in LPD custody until he is medically cleared, according to police. He will then be transported to the Polk County Jail.
The identities of the male and female occupants are unknown at this time. Charges from the Plant City Police Department are pending.
This continues to be an active investigation. Additional information will be made available as it becomes available.
