A 25-year-old Plant City man with 46 felonies on his record was shot by Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office deputies after the suspect attempted to hit them with a stolen vehicle.
According to Sheriff’s Office reports, at 3:17 p.m. Aug. 27, Justin Wallace Bryant was at the RaceTrac, 11703 Dr. MLK Jr. Blvd., in Seffner. Bryant was parked in a stolen Lincoln Navigator when detectives approached the vehicle. Detectives were attempting to take Bryant into custody for two grand theft auto warrants and two other grand theft auto charges.
At that time, Bryant turned the front wheels of the vehicle toward Det. William Hyatt and Det. Patrick Saunders and accelerated toward them. Hyatt dived out of the way and moved a witness to safety. Saunders had to push himself away from the vehicle as it approached and then fired two shots at Bryant. Det. Jeff Fender was nearby and fired one shot at Bryant. Bryant suffered one gunshot wound and crashed the vehicle into a pillar next to the gas pump.
He was airlifted to Tampa General Hospital, where he remains in stable condition. Bryant faces two counts of aggravated assault with a motor vehicle on a law-enforcement officer.
Both Fender and Saunders were placed on administrative leave, as part of standard procedure.