Morning liquor store heist and getaway sends deputies following through Martin, St. Lucie counties

MARTIN COUNTY, Fla. - A manhunt continued Friday morning for a third suspect involved in an early-morning liquor store burglary, sheriff’s officials said.

Two people who deputies say could be involved in the heist at Star Liquors III in the 5800 block of Southeast Federal Highway were apprehended Friday morning after deputies followed them from Martin County to St. Lucie County, then back again through Martin County.

The Martin County Sheriff’s Office received an alarm call from the liquor store about 4:20 a.m. Deputies arrived to find the store burglarized.

Less than 10 minutes later, deputies attempted to pull over a black Volkswagen Routan minivan that could have been involved in the burglary, but it sped north across the Roosevelt Bridge and into St. Lucie County, according to Rhonda Irons, Martin County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman.

Just north of Port St. Lucie Boulevard, the van made a U-turn and was southbound on U.S. 1 before going west on Port St. Lucie Boulevard, Irons said. Speeds were in excess of 100 mph, according to a news release.

Martin and St. Lucie deputies along with Port St. Lucie Police officers pursued the vehicle as it traveled west for several miles and eventually made its way back through Martin County.

“At multiple times, the occupants were throwing items from the vehicle,” Irons said. “They were throwing out bottles of liquor,” which hit law enforcement vehicles “several times.”

Deputies successfully deployed tire deflation devices near Citrus Boulevard and Boat Ramp Road. The vehicle skidded off the road and stopped in a nearby wetland preserve area ditch with knee-deep water before three people bailed out and fled on foot into a wooded area, Irons said.

Two were immediately caught. Deputies were still looking for one other person Friday morning.

No law enforcement officers were injured, but a sheriff’s K-9 bit the arm and leg of one suspect.

About 7 a.m., several deputies — some toting shotguns — were seen standing outside their patrol cars on the north side of State Road 714 east of Boat Ramp Road. They were looking north at a wooded area.

This story will be updated when further information is released.