Detectives investigate fleeing suspects

Sheriff’s detectives say they are working to identify three men who fled from the scene of a traffic stop in Islamorada early Sunday. Deputies used the Stinger Spike system to stop the vehicle after it fled at high speeds. The vehicle turned out to be stolen.

The incident began on Big Pine Key at 1:40 a.m. Sgt. Evan Calhoun spotted the gray Lexus sport utility vehicle speeding northbound. He tried to stop the vehicle, but it sped up  and began to drive dangerously, passing in no passing zones, so he broke off his attempts to stop it and radioed ahead to deputies north of his location.

Deputies in Marathon spotted the vehicle, but were also unable to stop it. At one point, a deputy following the vehicle measured the car’s speed at 140 mile per hour. Deputies monitored the vehicle as it fled north, radioing its location ahead. Officers at the 86 mile marker in Islamorada readied a set of Stinger Spikes, metal spikes imbedded in a rubber strip which is thrown across the roadway and are designed to stop a vehicle slowly by puncturing its tires.

When the vehicle reached the 86 mile marker, the spikes were deployed successfully. The vehicle came to a stop a short distance further on, in some bushes at the side of the road.  Four people fled from the vehicle.

A search of the area was conducted; one person, a 17 year old female, was found hiding in bushes. A check of computers revealed she had been reported missing from Miami. A check on the vehicle’s tag showed it to have been reported stolen from Hollywood, Florida.

Detectives say they are continuing to investigate in an effort to identify the suspects who fled from the car.

Anyone with information about this crime should contact the Sheriff’s Office. Callers who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers of the Florida Keys. If a Crimestoppers tip leads to an arrest, the caller would be eligible for a cash reward. The Crimestoppers hot line number is 1-800-346-TIPS. Tips may be made anonymously on line at www.tipsubmit.com or via a text message to 274637 using the keyword TIP136.

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