Florida man wanted for carjacking arrested after stealing FHP cruiser on Turnpike, troopers say

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — A man wanted in connection with a carjacking in Clearwater was arrested Thursday in Osceola County after troopers say he stole a Florida Highway Patrol car and led law enforcement on an 11-mile pursuit.

Clearwater police identified 22-year-old Shane Jensen, of Largo, as the suspect in a carjacking in a Home Depot parking lot Wednesday morning. Police said he threatened a teenager out of a truck with a stolen hammer and then drove off.

More than 24 hours later, troopers spotted a “medically distressed” pedestrian along the Florida Turnpike in Okeechobee County. A trooper said he stopped to help the man, later identified as Jensen. When the trooper walked away to get some water for Jensen from a road ranger, troopers said Jensen got into the trooper’s patrol car and drove off.

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As Jensen drove northbound, Osceola County sheriff’s deputies deployed stop sticks, which troopers said Jensen avoided before coming to a stop in the median.

Troopers said they arrested Jensen after he fled into the woods.

Jensen is facing charges of stealing a patrol car and reckless driving – in addition to any pending charges out of Clearwater.

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