Two JSO officers hurt apprehending suspect in Mayport robbery, kidnapping, auto theft

Jacksonville, FL — A Jacksonville officer has been seriously hurt after being intentionally hit by a suspect vehicle while outside of his car, and another officer was taken to the hospital for injuries suffered while trying to use his vehicle to intervene.

That’s according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, who says this all started as a reported robbery at the Lucky Charms Arcade on Mayport Road just after 2PM. JSO Director of Investigations and Homeland Security Ron Lendvay says they were called by someone who was watching a live stream from inside of the business, after an employee texted him concerns about a customer. A black male suspect who appeared to be in his 20s allegedly locked a patron of the business in the restroom and had the clerk empty cash from various areas of the business in to a backpack.

JSO patrol, K9, and air units worked in conjunction with Atlantic Beach Police and Neptune Beach Police to track the suspect to Stern Drive South. Lendvay says several citizens in that area also helped guide them to where the suspect was.

Lendvay says the suspect then fled that area with a car belonging to someone he encountered. That person was still in the vehicle at the time, according to JSO. Lendvay says they’re still investigating how exactly the kidnapping happened, but they have no reason to believe the suspect knew the victim.

While trying to get away, the suspect allegedly intentionally hit an officer who was outside of his vehicle near Mayport and Wonderwood, and that officer suffered serious injuries. JSO says the officer’s family has been notified, and he is currently being evaluated and treated at a hospital.

JSO says the suspect continued to flee, and minutes later another officer tried to stop him at Atlantic and Kernan. That officer was also injured, while trying to use his vehicle in the attempt to apprehend.

During the pursuit, JSO says the suspect drove recklessly, including traveling at more than 100 miles per hour and running multiple lights on Atlantic. The chase continued through to Atlantic and St. Johns Bluff, where JSO says a precision immobilization technique was used by an off-duty K9 officer to finally stop the suspect. The suspect vehicle spun in to a power pole, which broke, sending wires over the vehicle- which had also caught fire. JSO and JFRD were able to work together to get the suspect and victim out of the vehicle, and both have been taken to the hospital.

There were- at peak- close to two thousand JEA customers around Atlantic and St. Johns Bluff without power, as a result of the power pole and wires being down. Power has since been restored.

There was also a small grass fire near the crash, but that was quickly contained and put out.

Various stretches of Atlantic- namely between St. Johns Bluff and Kernan- were closed most of the day because of the complex investigation.

Police believe they know the identity of the suspect, but that is still pending confirmation, so it has not been released. JSO isn’t commenting at this time about the condition of the two officers, suspect, or victim, instead saying they are all being evaluated and treated at the hospital.