LADY LAKE, Fla. — A man was arrested early Wednesday morning after reportedly stealing a vehicle and crashing into a police officer’s patrol car according to arrest reports.
According to the report, Lady Lake Police Officer Kassim was traveling northbound on US 27/441 near the intersection of C25 just after midnight on Wednesday morning when he was struck from behind by a Honda SUV driven by a man later identified as 21-year-old Bryan Cardona-Rodriguez.
According to Kassim, Cardona-Rodriguez struck the officer’s patrol vehicle then traveled around the officer and sped off at which time Kassim initiated a pursuit.
The pursuit came to an end when Cardona-Rodriguez came to a stop near La Plaza Parkway.
Officers learned the vehicle Cardona-Rodriguez was driving was stolen out of Orange County.
When questioned, Cardona reportedly told officers that he was walking around City Walk when he noticed the vehicle at a gas station with the door open and the engine running. He then stated he jumped in the vehicle and took off and kept driving until he was in Lady Lake.
Officers also discovered that Cardona was involved in another hit-and-run accident in Leesburg that occurred just before he entered into Lady Lake.
Cardona-Rodriguez was arrested and charged with grand theft of an automobile, hit-and-run, and three counts of eluding police.
He was transported to the Lake County Jail where he is being held in lieu of a $12,500 bond.
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