SARASOTA, Fla. – A Sarasota Police patrol officer is recovering after being hit by a vehicle last night, Monday, March 20, 2023, on Bird Key in the City of Sarasota.
Officers responded to Mourning Dove Drive on Bird Key at about 2 p.m. on Monday for a vehicle burglary. When officers arrived, the victims said personal items were stolen from their vehicle.
Officers discovered video evidence and developed a white 4-door S-Series Mercedes as a suspect vehicle involved in the vehicle burglary.
In the news: Report: Miami And Orlando Rank Among America’s Worst Places For Traffic
Sarasota Police officers learned just after 5 p.m. the same white Mercedes was in a neighborhood on Longboat Key. Longboat Key police responded to a vehicle stolen from a home on Fair Oaks Place. Several people were home when the vehicle was stolen, but no one was hurt.
A call camera into the police just after 9 p.m. that the white Mercedes had returned to Bird Key.
Officers strategically placed their patrol vehicles at the entrance/exit to stop the Mercedes from leaving Bird Key.
Officers at the entrance/exit learned the Mercedes was driving back towards them.
The Sarasota Police officer who was injured anticipated the Mercedes would either try and drive onto a side street or crash into one of the parked patrol vehicles.
In the news: Florida Man Wins Lottery $1,000 Week For Life, Chooses Cash Option Of Over $1 Million
However, the Mercedes drove past a parked patrol car and hit the officer head-on, flipping him over the vehicle. The officer was taken to Sarasota Memorial Hospital and is now home and expected to recover fully.
Sarasota Police officers followed the Mercedes away from Bird Key as it drove east on John Ringling Causeway, north on US 41, east on Fruitville, and was abandoned in the 2900 block of Orange Avenue. When officers arrived, no one was in the vehicle. No suspect has been arrested at this time.
Anyone with information on this case is asked to call Detective Kim Laster at 941-263-6827 or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers by calling 941-366-TIPS or online at www.sarasotacrimestoppers.com.
Android Users, Click To Download The Free Press App And Never Miss A Story. Follow Us On Facebook and Twitter . Signup for our free newsletter . We can’t do this without your help; visit our GiveSendGo page and donate any dollar amount; every penny helps.