Suspect shot, killed after ramming car into Sarasota County deputy: SCSO
Crime scene tape and patrol vehicles at the scene of a deadly deputy-involved shooting in Sarasota. Image is courtesy of the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office.
SARASOTA, Fla. - A suspect accused of leading Sarasota County deputies on a chase was shot and killed by a law enforcement officer who says the driver tried to run him over.
According to the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, deputies tried to pull over a vehicle in the area of Phillippi Street and South Tamiami Trail around 12:31 a.m., on Tuesday. But, the driver, later identified by deputies as Michael Bajorek, wouldn’t stop.
The deputies followed the driver to the intersection of Webber Street and Lime Avenue and performed a PIT maneuver to stop the vehicle. When the car stopped, a deputy got out of his patrol car and tried to approach the suspect, according to SCSO.
That's when they say Bajorek suddenly drove at the deputy and pinned them between the suspect's vehicle and the patrol vehicle. The sheriff's office says the deputy was taken to Sarasota Memorial Hospital with leg and wrist injuries.
The suspect then continued to drive north on Shade Avenue and turned west on Webber Street. Bajorek stopped again and deputies got out of their cars to aproach him, but he then drove at them.
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One of the deputy's then fired shots, striking the suspect through the vehicle, according to SCSO. The suspect's vehicle continued across Webber Street, hitting a nearby tree behind a home.
Deputies say they pulled the suspect from the vehicle and began life-saving measures, along with the Sarasota County Fire Department, but he was pronounced dead.
Webber Street, between South Tamiami Trail and South Shade Avenue, closed for several hours on Tuesday morning as SCSO investigated. The roads have since reopened for drivers in the area.