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Remaining suspect arrested in carjacking

Posted at 6:05 PM, Mar 04, 2016
and last updated 2016-03-04 18:15:15-05

Winter Haven Police caught a break in their search for the remaining suspect responsible for the carjacking late Monday night outside a Walgreens.

The traumatizing ordeal was all caught on surveillance video that ultimately helped track down the thieves.

Friday morning, police received a tip that William Summerlin, a man they considered armed and dangerous, was staying at the Grove Motel in Lake Wales.

Officers carefully swarmed in and arrested him without any problems.

Investigators say he's the one who stalked the victim at Walgreens Monday night and waited for the perfect opportunity.

The surveillance video shows the man walking up to the car. Moments later you can see the victim getting on the ground.

Police say Summerlin's friend, John Crist hopped into the passenger seat before they sped away.

"They're predators and they need to be off the streets," said Capt. Mitch Meadows with the Winter Haven Police Department.

Police in St. John's County spotted the vehicle and made a traffic stop. Crist was brought into custody but Summerlin got away.

There's no word where Summerlin has been since officers arrested him Friday morning in Lake Wales.

"We've had detectives working around the clock, following up in every lead in effort to bring these guys into custody," Meadows said.

When reached by phone, the victim said she's relieved her family no longer has to live in fear.