A Bradenton man and a Bradenton woman were arrested by Pasco County deputies after they reportedly car-jacked an Uber driver in Bradenton and led deputies on a pursuit, ultimately crashing the vehicle in Pasco County.
The Bradenton Police Department responded to reports of a car-jacking in the 1900 block of 19th Avenue West on Tuesday, December 13 just before 5 p.m.
Officers say an Uber driver was dropping off some passengers in the 1900 block of 14th Street West in Bradenton when the male and female suspects opened the rear passenger doors and jumped into the Uber driver's vehicle.
They did not make arrangements on the Uber app for the driver to pick them up.
John Suggs, 19, asked for a ride a few blocks away and the 67-year-old driver agreed. The driver stopped the car in the 1900 block of 19th Avenue West and Suggs reportedly dove over the center console and began choking and hitting the victim, ultimately pushing him out of the car and taking control of the vehicle, driving away.
Police say the Uber driver tried to grab hold of his car as it was driving away but he fell and suffered lacerations and road rash to his head, face, arms and legs during the struggle.
The driver was transported to Manatee Memorial for medical treatment.
The Bradenton Police Department put out a BOLO for the vehicle and the two suspects in the vehicle. Eventually the vehicle was located by Pasco County deputies. The suspects led deputies on a pursuit in Pasco County before the vehicle crashed. The Uber driver's car was totaled in the crash. Suggs was injured in the crash and treated at the Pasco County hospital before he and Michelle Bager, 27, of Bradenton, were taken to the Pasco County Jail. Suggs did not speak to detectives, however, Bager did confess to the crime with Suggs.
Pasco Sheriff's Office says they will be releasing body camera video in the arrest. We will share as soon as we receive it.
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