Florida man’s pickup lands on top of deputy’s cruiser after chase

A Florida man who led deputies on a chase Sunday evening was caught after the suspect’s pickup truck landed on top of a deputy’s patrol car, authorities said.

Austin Westgate, 25, faces 19 charges related to a burglary and subsequent chase in the west-Central Florida county, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release on Monday.

According to the sheriff’s office, deputies responded to a burglary in Lake Alfred and spotted Westgate fleeing into nearby woods, dropping a handgun and entering a gold Ford Ranger pickup, The Ledger of Lakeland reported.

Austin had an outstanding Polk County warrant for fleeing to elude law enforcement officers, the sheriff’s office said in its release.

According to deputies, Westgate led deputies through Lake Alfred and the nearby cities of Auburndale and Winter Haven, The Ledger reported. While fleeing, Westgate sideswiped a car and two mailboxes, the sheriff’s office said.

There were no injuries, and when Auburndale police attempted to use stop-sticks, Westgate swerved out of the way, WTVT reported. However, Westgate drove into a steel-support cable, causing the rear of the truck to go airborne. The vehicle then landed on a top of a sheriff’s office patrol car, the television station reported.

Neither Westgate nor the deputy was injured, according to The Ledger.

Westgate attempted to flee but was subdued by authorities and arrested, the sheriff’s office said.

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