In Sarasota, Fla. (WFLA), authorities detained a man and a woman after a license plate reader detected a stolen U-Haul van at a Wawa, sparking a pursuit.
The Sarasota Police Department reported that deputies were notified about the stolen van by the reader. When officers tried to box in the U-Haul, the driver, identified as Travis Silva, crashed into their vehicles and fled the scene.
Surveillance video shows the van speeding off, slamming the cruiser into a post and a trash can in the process.
From above, SPD’s aviation team followed the pursuit as it moved north on I-75, reaching speeds of 90 mph.
The pursuit soon crossed over county lines, where Manatee deputies were waiting to deploy stop sticks on I-275.
The stop sticks disabled the front tires, but Silva persisted as he continued driving over the Skyway Bridge, SPD said.
At this point, Florida Highway Patrol had joined the pursuit and was able to end it with a precision PIT maneuver.
According to the Sarasota Police Department, both Silva and his passenger, Tamicka Raburn, had active warrants.
Sarasota Police successfully apprehended the pair. Silva faced charges including fleeing to elude, aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, criminal mischief, possessing a stolen vehicle, resisting arrest, and driving under the influence. Raburn was charged with aggravated battery using a deadly weapon.
