HIGHLANDS COUNTY, Fla. — A crime spree that started with a stolen car in Broward County ended with a crash more than two hours away and multiple people in custody, authorities said Thursday.
The Okeechobee County Sheriff's Office said the multi-county investigation stemmed from the theft of a black Dodge Durango in Margate.
Calling it an "active police investigation... spanning several counties," the sheriff's office posted on Facebook the pursuit went through Martin and Okeechobee counties before ending at State Road 70 and County Road 721 in Highlands County, not far from Coco Sod Farms.
A photo from the sheriff's office showed the Durango crashed into a ditch, along with a stop sign knocked over and at least three deputies surrounding the vehicle.
According to authorities, the stolen SUV was spotted in Martin County, but the Martin County Sheriff's Office said the vehicle was going too fast to pursue.
Once the Durango entered Okeechobee County, deputies there began pursuing it and laid out stop strips on State Road 70. The strips slowed the car down, but didn't stop it completely.
At one point during the pursuit, the driver of the Durango hit an Okeechobee County deputy's patrol car, but the deputy was not seriously hurt.
The Okeechobee Police Department said the Durango started driving into oncoming traffic, and sheriff's office deputies tried to box the vehicle in. It eventually crashed at State Road 70 and County Road 721 in Highlands County.
One suspect ran away, while the other stayed in the SUV. Both were eventually taken into custody.
The Highlands County Sheriff's Office said Aaron Ja’Quann Adderly, 18, of Pompano Beach, is facing a charge of grand theft of a motor vehicle.
A 17-year-old suspect from Margate, who investigators said was the driver of the Durango, is facing charges of grand theft of a motor vehicle, aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, and resisting an officer without violence.