A paralyzed man wanted for Grand Theft Auto has seemingly eluded Florida police twice! Hit the jump for the full story.
Huffington Post – A man who’s paralyzed — and wanted for grand theft — managed to outmaneuver cops several times before getting arrested.
But police in Florida got their man, Terry Keith Yates, after some dangerous car chases.
During multiple pursuits to reel him in for stealing cars, Yates, 27, attempted to run over authorities by “aggressively and deliberately” driving his vehicle at officers, according to Pasco County Sheriff’s Office records obtained by The Huffington Post.
“He is quite brazen, so we are very fortunate that nobody was killed or hurt,” said Doug Tobin, a Pasco County public information officer.
On April 3, the suspect avoided officers — some chasing him in a police helicopter — while driving a stolen vehicle using a stick-like object to operate the pedals. Authorities suspended the chase when the chopper ran out of fuel, the report said.
Three days later, a sheriff’s deputy spotted Yates allegedly driving a stolen vehicle. The officer made eye contact with the suspect, only to see him quickly make a U-turn and bolt for the rural Green Swamp region of southwest Florida.
On April 8, Easter Sunday, authorities attempted to arrest Yates inside his home in Lacoochee. Yates fled in a stolen white Jeep, which he used as a hideout until police eventually caught up with him.
Authorities said that when deputies began to approach the parked Jeep, Yates attempted to run over at least two officers. Police fired multiple shots as Yates once again got away.
Police captured Yates later that day in Sumter County. They arrested the suspect and recovered a 10mm handgun as well as Yates’ stash of marijuana, oxycodone and methamphetamine.
The vehicle is currently in forensic testing, Tobin said.
Yates is charged with two counts of attempted murder on law enforcement, grand theft of a motor vehicle and resisting arrest.
