POLK COUNTY, Fla. — A Florida man was arrested after he tried to carjack four separate drivers on Friday.
Christopher Henrix, 32, crashed his truck around 7:45 a.m. as he was fleeing a hit and run on I-4, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office said.
After crashing, he ran to a Marathon gas station and tried to drive off in a Chevy Colorado that was at one of the pumps. A woman pumping gas sprayed Hendrix with gasoline when she realized he was trying to steal her truck.
Hendrix jumped out and ran to another vehicle, a burgundy Town and Country minivan. The driver, who has a permit to carry a concealed firearm, was standing out front. The man drew his handgun, aimed it at the suspect and demanded he get out of the minivan.
Investigators said Hendrix then ran from the gas station. He jumped over the side of an overpass onto I-4 causing the driver of a box truck to slam on the brakes causing a tractor trailer to rear end it.
The driver of a green Chevy truck pulled over to help. Hendrix tried to get in the back seat, however the doors were locked. Hendrix ran across I-4 and got into the passenger seat of a Chevy Equinox that was pulled over on the shoulder trying to help. The driver took her keys out of the ignition and jumped from her car.
By this time, deputies were on scene and took Hendrix into custody. When Hendrix was put into the back of a patrol car, he tried to kick out the window and escape.
Hendrix was arrested and charged with carjacking, grand theft auto, two counts of occupied burglary, felony criminal mischief and escape, the sheriff’s office said.
Hendrix has previously been convicted of six felonies and four misdemeanors. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison for aggravated battery in 2009. He was released in 2017.
“This violent, convicted felon was bound and determined to forcibly steal a car this morning, but our citizens said, ‘Not today,’” Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said. “While I’m grateful nobody was seriously injured, I’m also very proud of these four victims for keeping their wits about them and refusing to allow this man to take what’s theirs.”
Sheriff Grady Judd is giving details about an arrest of a convicted felon on I-4 this morning after he attempted to carjack several different victims and caused at least two crashes on the interstate. Detectives are still trying to identify another attaempted carjacking victim. The suspect attempted to get into a blue Hyundai on Hwy 557, but the would-be victim was able to drive away. If you are that person, please contact Detective Graves at 863-236-3900. Click here to read the news release: https://tinyurl.com/y5t24hno
Posted by Polk County Sheriff's Office on Friday, October 2, 2020
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