A Plant City teenager has been arrested after allegedly stealing a vehicle and attempting to outrun deputies, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.
At just after 1 p.m. Sunday, March 19, HCSO was informed of a stolen Chrysler in the area of Turkey Creek Road and Connell Road. The vehicle, containing both a driver and a passenger, was later observed by deputies turning north onto Timberlane Drive, entering Walden Lake.
According to HCSO, the driver of the vehicle, later identified as 16-year-old Steve Seago, of Plant City, accelerated the vehicle and turned right onto Alcott Drive and right onto Kilmer Drive. The street is a dead-end with a roundabout.
Deputy Rupp and Deputy Eakins approached the roundabout, by which time Seago had turned the Chrysler and was approaching the marked patrol car head on. The deputies activated emergency lights and stopped the patrol car. Seago stopped his vehicle, then accelerated toward the patrol car, striking it.
Seago and his passenger fled from the vehicle on foot heading north. Deputies pursues Seago a short distance behind a Kilmer Drive home. Seago ignored several verbal commands to stop. According to the report by HCSO, Seago then turned toward Deputy Eakins with an unknown intent. After refusing verbal commands to get on the ground, Seago took an aggressive stance.
An electronic control device was deployed, striking Seago in the right bicep and chest area. Seago fell to the ground and became compliant to verbal commands.
Seago was arrested and charged with resisting an officer without violence, two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and grand theft of a motor vehicle.
HCSO later confirmed the Chrysler as stolen.
Deputies are still attempting to locate the passenger of the vehicle, who fled on foot.
Anyone with information in reference to the passenger, including identity and whereabouts, is asked to call the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.
Tips can also be reported to Crime Stoppers Tampa Bay at 1-800-873-8477 (TIPS), or can be reported anonymously online at CrimeStoppersTB.com.
This story will be updated as more details are released.
Contact Emily Topper at etopper@plantcityobserver.com.