Jessica Pope
LAKELAND — A routine traffic stop led to a high-speed chase, shots fired, a law-enforcement officer injured, and a man arrested on Memorial Day.
Just after midnight on Monday, a Lakeland Police Department officer attempted to stop a white Ford pickup truck at the intersection of 8th Street and Murrell Avenue, said Chief Robbie Grantham. The reason for the traffic stop was a broken or blown tag light.
Grantham said that the officer reported smelling alcohol on the driver, who was the only person in the vehicle at the time. A second officer was called to back up the first officer because “this driver has a history of running when stopped,” Grantham added.
At some point during the stop, Grantham said the driver grabbed the officer by the wrist and started dragging him down the road. The backup officer fired four rounds at the truck in an attempt to stop the driver, Grantham said. Grantham said that no one was struck by a bullet during the shooting. The truck was hit three times in the driver’s side door, reported Lanier County Sheriff Nick Norton, who was called to assist the Lakeland Police Department with the incident, and the driver was scratched on the thigh by a piece of metal possibly from the truck’s door.
Norton noted that he had deputies dispatched to the area after receiving a report of shots fired. He said his deputies joined the Lakeland officers in pursuit of the pickup truck down Highway 129. About 10 minutes later, after discovering who the driver was, Norton said, “I told my guys to stop their vehicle pursuit of this person.”
Twenty minutes later, Norton reported that a “Be On the Lookout” (BOLO) was issued for the driver and the truck. Ten minutes later, he advised the 911 Center to cancel the BOLO as the driver had been located.
“He was on the telephone with me,” Norton said, “and another officer. I got a message to the police chief that I would pick him up and take him to the police department.”
Norton said that he did not want to risk any of the officers or citizens getting hurt in a prolonged chase.
At 4:08 a.m., Norton said that he turned over the driver to the Lakeland Police Department. He then went to Stockton and recovered the truck, placing it in the custody of the city’s wrecker service some 90 minutes later.
Henry Livingston, 41, of Stockton is charged with fleeing and/or attempting to elude, driving under the influence, reckless driving, driving with his tag light out, as well as aggravated assault on a police officer, Grantham said. Additional charges have not been ruled out at this time.
When asked why the driver fled the scene with a police officer in tow for a routine traffic violation, Grantham said, “I guess he didn’t want to go to jail.”
Grantham said that he has been in contact with the injured officer, and except for a few bumps and bruises, the officer appears to be doing fine. He was expected to return to work as usual today.
