Car Chase Through Greater Brandon Ends With 2 Arrests in Dover

Two men are in custody after leading sheriff's deputies on a chase through the Greater Brandon area early Aug. 6.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office reports that at approximately 5:45 a.m., deputies spotted two men driving out of a business complex near U.S. 301 and Palm River Road with an air conditioner loaded into the back of a Dodge Durango.

Deputies happened to be there because they'd been conducting surveillance near the area due to a recent rash of air-conditioner thefts.

Deputies called for backup to surround the suspect's vehicle for a traffic stop. An unmarked patrol vehicle followed the suspect's vehicle to State Road 60 and Falkenburg Road, where additional sheriff's vehicles converged.

The suspect's vehicle was surrounded when the driver accelerated and rammed one of the unmarked cars, which created enough space to drive away.

Marked patrol vehicles then chased the suspects and their truck for several miles until the suspect's vehicle stopped near Old East Hillsborough Avenue and Pine Street in Seffner. Deputies got out of their patrol vehicles, but as they were approaching the suspects' vehicle, the driver accelerated again, rammed a marked patrol vehicle and drove away.

Deputies continued the pursuit onto eastbound Interstate 4 where, at the McIntosh Road exit ramp, the suspect lost control of his vehicle and rolled over on the embankment. The driver and a passenger were taken into custody without further incident.

The two suspects were not injured in the crash and have been transported to District 2 headquarters for questioning. There were no other vehicles damaged and no deputies were injured.

A second crash happened near the initial crash scene when a driver who was slowing ended up being rear-ended by another motorist who was apparently was not paying attention. That crash resulted in minor injuries.

The names of the two suspects taken into custody will be released later today.