Deputies say they attempted a traffic stop on a blue Jeep that had an active BOLO on it for retail theft.
The Jeep fled from the traffic stop and deputies say the driver intentionally swerved the Jeep at the patrol car, causing the Deputy to have to swerve to avoid a collision.
“He tried to ram me off the road,” the deputy is heard saying on body camera video released Thursday.
Deputies followed the Jeep from US 19/SR 52 SB on US 19 and ended at Westport Drive and Seabreeze Drive with the driver, Jeral Bornstein, 40, jumping out of the Jeep and running away. Bornstein jumped into the canal and he struggled to swim.
Two Pasco County deputies went into the water to rescue Bornstein. He was unresponsive when he was brought to shore and deputies performed CPR until Fire Rescue arrived.
Bornstein was transported to the hospital where he admitted that he fled from the traffic stop because he did not have a driver's license. He has been arrested in Pasco County at least nine times and is headed to jail after the hospital.
