Indian River chase ends in St. Lucie; deputy fires at man driving toward officers
ST. LUCIE COUNTY — A deputy fired several shots at a pickup truck and a man who was driving it toward law enforcement officers, trying to flee from a crash after a pursuit into Fort Pierce Thursday night, authorities said.
No one was struck by what a Sheriff’s Office official said was “less than 10 rounds” fired by a 27-year law enforcement official, who is now on paid administrative leave pending an investigation.
"The suspect drove toward law enforcement (and) our deputies discharged their firearms at the vehicle,” Sheriff Keith Pearson said at a Friday morning news conference at the Sheriff's Office.
Pearson said the driver, Lance Evans, 40, of Sebastian, had an “extensive criminal history.”
Florida Highway Patrol troopers began chasing the pickup after trying to stop it in Indian River County for a traffic violation around 10:30 p.m.
Arrest records show a state trooper captured a southbound truck on radar traveling 95 mph in a 70 mph zone south of State Road 60 at 10:35 p.m. on Interstate 95.
The truck fled the state trooper at speeds up to 115 mph, "using all lanes of travel," until it exited at Indrio Road. The highway officer then tried to ram the truck off the road, but the patrol vehicle was lifted off the ground by the truck's rear tire, according to the arrest report.
The truck went off the road and turned around and again entered the interstate and continued to flee south at speeds up to 115 mph.
The pursuit continued as the truck exited east on State Road 70 and made its way into Fort Pierce where it crashed into a sport utility vehicle at Sunrise Boulevard and Virginia Avenue, Pearson said.
After the crash, Pearson said, the truck was “stationary for some time,” even as other officers and first responders cared for the other driver.
“The vehicle then drove toward not only our deputies but other law enforcement members that were out there outside of their car(s) as well,” he said.
Another pursuit began, but this time deputies disabled the truck using their vehicles on South 10th Street, and Evans ran until he was incapacitated with a stun gun and arrested, Pearson said.
The SUV driver was taken to HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital with what Pearson said were non-life threatening injures.
The deputy who shot at the truck is on paid administrative leave, per Sheriff's Office policy, Pearson said.
A loaded handgun and extra ammunition were found in bag hanging on seat inside the truck, according to the Florida Highway Patrol report.
Evans refused to speak with law enforcement as he was taken to a hospital for evaluation, but the state trooper reported, "I observed slow, lethargic speech and bloodshot eyes."
Indian River County Sheriff's Office arrest records show additional arrests on similar charges of fleeing and eluding, reckless driving and weapons possession.
According to St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office records, Evans was charged with aggravated fleeing and eluding police with a crash resulting in injury or damage; resisting or obstructing an officer without violence; reckless driving leading to damage to a person or property; leaving the scene of a crash involving damage to property; driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs; assault on a first responder; possession of a weapon by a convicted felon; and fleeing and eluding police with active lights and sirens.
Evans was arrested by Florida Highway Patrol troopers and booked into St. Lucie County Jail without bail shortly after 7 a.m. Friday, according to law enforcement records.
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Corey Arwood is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm and Treasure Coast Newspapers. Follow @coreyarwood on X, email corey.arwood@tcpalm.com or call 772-978-2246.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Pursuit ends in crash, shots fired by deputy at vehicle moving toward officers, SLCSO says
