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Man arrested after leading Hillsborough deputies on pursuit, injuring 3: HCSO

By and FOX 13 News Staff
Published  September 10, 2024 1:23pm EDT
Hillsborough County
FOX 13 News

Pursuit ends with 3 deputies injured

Three Hillsborough County deputies are recovering from injuries during a pursuit that ended with a crash in a Riverview neighborhood.

RIVERVIEW, Fla. - A man was arrested after leading Hillsborough County deputies on a chase in which he aimed his car at them multiple times and left three injured, authorities said.

According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, Sean Bolton, 28, of Gibonston, was arrested and charged with aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, aggravated fleeing to elude law enforcement, and others after the chase on Monday evening.

READ: Palm Harbor man used ‘unjustifiable force’ to break puppy’s leg: PCSO

At around 5:30 p.m. on Monday, HCSO deputies tried to stop a Chrysler for illegal window tint and failing to stop at a stop sign, but the driver, Bolton, refused to pull over and sped off. 

Photo courtesy: Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office

Authorities tracked Bolton into the Carriage Point subdivision where deputies tried to use stop sticks. During the deployment of the stop sticks, Bolton deliberately aimed his car at a uniformed deputy standing on the edge of the road, according to HCSO, and the deputy had to get out of the way to avoid getting hit. 

Deputies continued to follow the car, and at the intersection of Ekker Road and Carriage Point Drive, they tried a vehicle intercept technique. Bolton responded by ramming into two HCSO vehicles and taking off again, according to officials.

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According to HCSO, deputies ended the pursuit, which lasted under a mile, by successfully performing a PIT maneuver. 

In the neighborhood, people were just getting home from work and students, like Vivian Monteiro, were walking home from school.

"It felt like an action movie. I don't know. It was really. It was really dangerous," said Monteiro. 

The sheriff's office said Bolton's driving caused a deputy's vehicle to strike a tree and another deputy's vehicle to crash into a backyard fence on Carriage Point Drive. During that impact, a fence post pierced through the deputy's window, narrowly missing the deputies inside.

Vehicle involved in crash during pursuit (Photo courtesy: HCSO)

"This individual had multiple opportunities to do the right thing and pull over, but instead, he chose to continue his reckless and dangerous behavior, showing a complete disregard for the safety of our deputies and the community members around him," said Sheriff Chad Chronister. "His actions were irresponsible and could have had far more tragic consequences."

Security cameras from neighbors show the moment one of the deputies tried to make that PIT maneuver, crashing into a tree instead. Just feet away, Daisy Moreno was inside her house with her daughter. She said they felt the house shake from the impact, and the car came within feet of crashing through their home. 

"Super distressed and super nervous. Because if that tree isn’t out there, my God. It would have been the worst consequences. My daughter was in the house, right in that window, sitting there eating," said Moreno.

Three deputies were ultimately injured in the pursuit, all of which were minor injuries. All three were treated at Tampa General Hospital and later released. 

"This individual’s reckless actions put our deputies and the community at extreme risk. I am incredibly grateful that none of our deputies or innocent bystanders were seriously injured during this criminal’s reckless attempt to avoid capture," said Sheriff Chad Chronister. "This brazen disregard for human life and the safety of others is exactly why our deputies work tirelessly to bring individuals like this to justice. We are relieved that this dangerous individual is now off the streets."

He is being held at the Orient Road Jail.