By Marlene Naanes
Sun-Sentinel
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — A man used a semitrailer truck cab to yank a deposit box from a bank Monday morning and led police on a chase that ended with three officers injured, police said.
William F. Targett, 36, targeted the Wachovia Bank in the 1700 block of West Commercial Boulevard about 4 a.m. but a bank alarm alerted police. As officers showed up, Targett fled without the loot, police said in a news release.
Targett led police south on Interstate 95 and drove to an apartment complex in the 2100 block of Davie Boulevard, police said. In the complex’s parking lot, he injured three officers and damaged three police cruisers and seven residents’ vehicles, police said.
“I heard [Targett’s] vehicle engine roar and watched in horror as he turned the [semitrailer] and aimed it for the marked vehicle,” an officer wrote in the police report. " ... I heard the engine of [Targett’s] vehicle continue to accelerate as it began crushing the occupied driver’s compartment and pushing the cruiser backward across the parking lot.”
That officer was treated for minor injuries and released from Broward General Medical Center. Two other officers trying to arrest Targett were also injured but not taken to hospitals, police said. Police did not release the name of the officers involved.
At some point, the Fort Lauderdale man — who lived nearby — ran from the cab, and an officer tried to arrest him. Targett punched the officer in the eye several times, kicked him and punched him again on the top of his head. He also attacked other officers as they struggled with him, police said.
Officers punched and kicked back. They also Tasered him more than once, but he still fought, said police spokesman Sgt. Frank Sousa. Targett was eventually arrested on several counts, including attempted murder of a law enforcement officer and aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, police said.
Targett was taken to Broward General Medical Center where he remained Monday afternoon recovering from his injuries.
Copyright 2007 Sun-Sentinel Company
All Rights Reserved