The Pasco Sheriff's Office arrested John Byrne, 25, after a vehicle pursuit that occurred early Friday evening.
Byrne is a known prolific offender and Tarpon Spring Police Department located him heading North on US 19 around 6:20 p.m. They requested assistance from Pasco to do a felony stop, according to PSO.
Byrne was the passenger in the vehicle and near the intersection of Brinley Drive and Arelli Drive in New Port Richey, he jumped out of the vehicle. He then fled into a swampy area near Veterans Village and Trinity West. At that time fifteen units responded including Tarpon PD, K9, and air to set up a perimeter.
After fleeing into the swampy area, Byrne stole an unoccupied minivan and tried to flee westbound down Lachlan Drive.
A Pasco deputy discharged a pistol to disable the tire, but Byrne continued to drive down SR 54 to the Suncoast and then into Hillsborough County where he spun out into a ditch on Firecracker Drive.
Byrne was then taken into custody. He is currently in the Hillsborough County jail and will be extradited to Pasco.
No one was injured during the chase.
