POLK COUNTY, Fla. — Five suspects were arrested after leading law enforcement officials on a pursuit early Sunday morning.
The Florida Highway Patrol said at approximately 1:02 a.m., they were assisting the Polk County Sheriff's Office with an active vehicle pursuit on I-4 near US Highway 27.
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It was later confirmed that the vehicle was stolen. Troopers saw Polk deputies actively pursuing the vehicle, a white Kia Sportage.
Once at mile marker 45, deputies turned off their emergency lights and the troopers engaged in the pursuit. The speeds of the pursuit were over 120 miles per hour.
At mile marker 32, the suspect vehicle struck spike strips that were deployed by deputies. However, the suspect vehicle kept going.
After the suspect vehicle finally came to a rolling stop, five occupants ran from the vehicle on foot into the grass median off I-4.
One suspect submitted and was taken into custody, a second ran towards I-4, but then retreated.
Another trooper came to the scene and arrested two more suspects from the vehicle. A fifth suspect was located by deputies.
All five of the suspects were arrested for: grand theft of a motor vehicle, flee to elude, burglary of a conveyance and resisting arrest without violence. One of the suspects also had an active warrant out of Hillsborough County.
No one was injured during the pursuit or during the arrest. One trooper vehicle suffered two flat tires as a result of striking the spike strip, but no other damage was caused.
The Florida Highway Patrol is handling all charges associated with the pursuit.
