SARASOTA, Fla. — The Sarasota Police Department said a man accused of hitting an officer with a car earlier this week is now in custody.
Police said Mark Thomas, 22, of Plantation, was taken into custody on Wednesday at a Broward County probation office. He's charged with aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer and flee to elude with disregard for safety.
Police said the entire chain of events started around 2 p.m. Monday. Officers went to Mourning Dove Drive on Bird Key after victims reported personal items were stolen from their vehicle. Officers said a white, four-door Mercedes sedan was the likely suspect vehicle.
Just after 9 p.m., Sarasota Police said the white Mercedes returned to Bird Key. Police then said they put their patrol vehicles in front of the entrance/exit to the area in an attempt to stop the Mercedes from leaving the area.
WARNING: Viewer discretion is advised as the Sarasota Police video shows multiple angles of the officer getting hit. The officer is okay after the crash.
As the Mercedes drove back towards the entrance/exit, officers were behind one of the vehicles. Surveillance video showed one of the officers running from behind their patrol vehicle and then being hit and thrown in the air by the white Mercedes.
The officer who was hit was able to get back up quickly but was taken to the hospital and is expected to recover fully.
"We all gasped as we saw the officer jump about four to six inches and save his own life because that allowed him to roll over the vehicle and onto the ground," said Sarasota Police Chief Rex Troche.
Sarasota Police said the white Mercedes was eventually found abandoned on the 2900 block of Orange Avenue.
Police said Thomas has been convicted of several crimes since December 2019 and was released from prison in February 2023. His previous charges inlcude grand theft auto, burglary of an unoccupied dwelling and carrying a concealed firearm.
