Deputy Hit By SUV, Suspects Lead High-Speed Chase On I75: Sheriff

BRADENTON, FL — A sheriff’s deputy was hit by an SUV Wednesday morning after attempting to arrest a man with an active warrant outside a gas station, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release. The man and two other suspects then drove away, leading a high-speed chase on I-75.

Around 11:20 a.m. Wednesday, a deputy with the MCSO Warrants Unit recognized Tommy Whittenburg, 22, who had an active warrant for possession with intent to sell within less than 1,000 feet of a place of worship, at the Nick & Moes gas station at 575 66th Street Court E. in Bradenton.

Whittenburg tried to run away from the deputy, who tased him. A man and a woman that were with Tommy — Aaron Whittenburg, 25, and Alexis Daugherty, 21 — interfered with the deputy’s efforts to detain him, MCSO said.

Tommy and Aaron were able to run away from the area as Daugherty tried to drive away in an SUV. The deputy tried to stop her, but she reversed the SUV, hitting the deputy, the sheriff’s office said. She sped away from the gas station, picking up Tommy and Aaron, and driving toward State Road 64.

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The deputy receive permission to pursue them. After she got onto I-75, the deputy chased them for seven miles. During the chase, speeds reached 105 miles per hour, the sheriff’s office said. The deputy ended the four-minute chase because of the erratic driving of the suspect and safety concerns.

There were no crashes or injuries during the chase. The deputy suffered minor injuries after being hit by the SUV, MCSO said.

Deputies identified the three suspects and with the help of the U.S. marshals arrested them in Sarasota Thursday. They were booked into Sarasota County Jail.