A juvenile has been arrested in Pasco County after deputies received a call about someone throwing rocks at cars on Old Lakeland Highway near Clinton Avenue.
At approximately 3 a.m. Friday, deputies responded to the intersection after a driver reported a granite rock hit his car as he was traveling south on the highway. The rock caused damage to the rear driver's side door. The victim reported he observed the suspect run back into the the grass after throwing the rock at the vehicle.
Several teens in custody for throwing rocks off Michigan overpass that killed man
Deputy Axel Rodriguez was on scene when he observed a rock fly over his hood nearly striking his patrol car.
"The rock about a softball size went right across my windshield and almost struck my vehicle," said Deputy Rodriguez.
The deputies checked the area and quickly located the suspect hiding in the grass near the location. The victim positively ID'ed the suspect as the subject who threw the rocks.
"As I was looking for him and waiting for K9, I announced my presence and I advised the suspect that 'hey, I have K9 on the way. It's best that you let me find you before the dog does' and behind some bushes, a juvenile popped up," said Deputy Rodriguez.
The juvenile suspect was arrested. We are not naming the 16-year-old because he is a juvenile.
"I'm not very good on physics but I'm pretty sure with my speed plus that rock, going the way it was, I pretty much would've got hurt. Anybody would've got hurt or killed," explained Deputy Rodriguez.
The Pasco Sheriff's Office says, "we want to bring awareness to this arrest as these type of situations can be very dangerous. Throwing rocks at vehicles is not a joke and it will not be treated as such."
The Sheriff's Office says there could be more victims and are asking anyone involved to call them.
