A man who snatched a vehicle from a Flying J travel center crossed through four counties before he was finally apprehended in Sumter County.
A trooper was notified of a stolen vehicle, later found to be driven by 32-year-old Raul Mata of Seffner headed north on Interstate 75 in Bushnell around 6:30 a.m. Thursday, according to an arrest report from the Florida Highway Patrol.
The vehicle, a white 2025 Chevrolet Silverado, had been reported stolen out of Hillsborough County. It belonged to Philips Inc and was being actively tracked by the company which owns it. Updated GPS information indicated the vehicle was passing Mile Marker 293, and the trooper spotted it at Mile Marker 310, the report said.
He pulled up behind the vehicle and activated his emergency lights and sirens for a traffic stop. Mata immediately began to flee, speeding up and changing lanes multiple times to evade the trooper. This sparked a pursuit, which the trooper broadcast over the radio to other units, the report said.
A Pursuit Immobilization Technique was used on the passenger side of the vehicle, causing it to travel onto the outside shoulder. The vehicle finally stopped on the northbound outside shoulder, and Mata was detained without further incident. He was then evaluated by EMS but suffered no injuries, the report said.
Further investigation determined Mata had stolen the vehicle from the Flying J travel center off Interstate 4 and County Road 579, meaning the events of this incident happened across Hillsborough, Pasco, Hernando and Sumter counties. Law enforcement also learned he was on Florida inmate release status for aggravated fleeing to elude, the report said.
Mata was arrested on charges of operate motor vehicle without valid license, flee/elude law enforcement officer lights/siren active and grand theft of motor vehicle. He was booked at the Sumter County Detention Center without bond.