Florida Man Leads Wild Police Chase After Stealing Deputy Cruiser

Police in Florida say an attempted murder suspect stole a deputy's cruiser... then pulled over and carjacked a driver... before crashing and being arrested. Oh, and he wasn't wearing a shirt.

Suspect Carjacks Civilian, Crashes, and Resists Arrest

A high-speed police chase in South Florida ended in dramatic fashion when a suspect, wanted for attempted murder, stole a deputy’s patrol car, carjacked another vehicle, and ultimately crashed before being taken into custody.

Suspect Steals Patrol Car, Attempts to Take Officer’s Gun

Authorities say the chaos began when deputies responded to a call about a violent domestic attack. The suspect, later identified as Armando Lopez, had allegedly assaulted his ex-girlfriend at her home earlier that day. When Sgt. James Hager arrived on the scene, he found the woman severely injured.

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As Hager attempted to intervene, Lopez turned his aggression toward the officer. According to reports, he tried to wrestle the deputy’s firearm from its holster before making a bold escape—stealing the patrol car and speeding away.

Carjacking Caught on Camera

Dashcam and body-camera footage captured Lopez’s reckless flight through a Largo neighborhood. At one point, he activated the stolen cruiser’s emergency lights, pulling over an unsuspecting driver in a red SUV. The driver, likely believing it was a routine traffic stop, was forcibly removed from her vehicle as Lopez made his getaway.

“He just stole my patrol car! He’s running northbound, lights are on, and he tried to take my gun,” the deputy can be heard saying in the video.

With officers in pursuit, Lopez reached speeds of nearly 100 miles per hour.

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High-Speed Chase Ends in Fiery Crash

Monroe County deputies stayed hot on Lopez’s trail until he lost control, flipping the stolen SUV onto its roof. Even after the crash, authorities say he resisted arrest before finally being subdued.

Lopez remains behind bars, facing multiple charges, including attempted murder, carjacking, and grand theft auto.

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Authorities credit their quick response and teamwork for preventing further harm. Meanwhile, the victim of the initial attack continues to recover as the case moves forward in court.