09/03/12 Tampa, FL – Officer Gets Into Fight With Drug Suspect – Steals Cruiser – Crashes Into Two Cars And A House

September 3, 2012

cfnews13.com

A Tampa man’s attempt at escaping arrest didn’t go quite as smoothly as he expected, police said.

Lorenzo Little, 58, is behind bars after officials said he tried to flee in a stolen police car, but not before crashing the cruiser into two other vehicles and a house.

According to police, an officer saw Little arguing with a woman in the area of the East Gate Motel on Hillsborough Avenue at 2:30 p.m.

Little saw the officer and began shoving suspected narcotics in his mouth, police said. The officer grabbed Little and the two struggled, during which the officer lost his balance and fell, the report said.

Little got away from the officer, got into the police cruiser and drove away, police said.

While he was trying to get past traffic, Little hit a vehicle driven by a 69-year-old woman, then lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a parked car on N. 15th Street and a house on E. Frierson Avenue, investigators said.

Little then got out of the cruiser and began running from the scene of the crash, police said. He broke into a resident’s home then came out the back door as officers chased him, the report said.

Police called for a K-9 unit to search for Little, and when they found him, they ordered him to surrender. He refused and the dog apprehended him.

The officer was taken to a local hospital for treatment of injuries, while Little was treated for a dog bite. He will be taken to jail after treatment.

Little is facing charges of battery of a law enforcement officer, burglary, grand theft auto, resisting arrest, aggravated fleeing to elude, hit and run with injuries, reckless driving and driving with a suspended or revoked license.

Police said he will also be charged with outstanding warrants for battery, trafficking and manufacturing narcotics.