Deputies Stop Stolen Vehicle After Pursuit Through University Area

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office says Jessica Johnson, 37, of Tampa was arrested Tuesday morning after a pursuit through the University area that began with a stolen vehicle report. Deputies ended the chase by performing a PIT maneuver.

The sequence began at about 8:40 a.m., when deputies received an alert about a vehicle reported stolen by the Tampa Police Department. The vehicle was traveling north on North 15th Street from East 122nd Avenue.

Deputies found the vehicle parked at a business complex at 1509 E. Fletcher Ave. They activated emergency lights and attempted to box in the vehicle to take the driver into custody. According to the sheriff's office, Johnson declined commands to stop and pulled away, nearly striking a responding deputy and ramming the side of a patrol vehicle.

The pursuit continued until deputies executed a PIT maneuver near North 37th Street and Cambridge Woods Drive. Johnson was removed from the vehicle and taken into custody.

Johnson faces two counts of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer with a deadly weapon, along with charges of aggravated fleeing to elude, resisting an officer with violence, grand theft of a motor vehicle, criminal mischief involving $1,000 or more in damage, reckless driving involving property damage or personal injury, driving with a canceled, suspended or revoked license, leaving the scene of a crash involving property damage, and violation of probation in a felony battery case.