Wayne K. Roustan
Sun Sentinel
PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. — An undercover deputy was critically injured but is recovering at a hospital after being pinned between vehicles during a traffic stop, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office said.
John Pyrzyk, 47, of West Palm Beach, is accused of backing a maroon Dodge pickup truck into the deputy while trying to escape arrest, officials said.
It started just before 1 p.m. Thursday with reports of a suspicious vehicle near Military Trail and Purdy Lane, south of Forest Hill Boulevard.
The Dodge sped away when deputies tried to conduct a traffic stop. They did not chase the pickup, but undercover deputies followed it at a distance in unmarked cars, officials said.
When the pickup pulled into an apartment complex parking lot about 2 p.m. it was surrounded. A man and woman got out but Pyrzyk threw the truck in reverse and backed away, striking the deputy and a patrol car before hitting a fence. Pyrzyk jumped out and ran but a K9 team caught him, investigators said.
The deputy — whose name has not been released — was taken to St. Mary’s Medical Center with injuries that were not considered life-threatening, officials said.
Three people were taken into custody but only Pyrzyk was facing charges of fleeing and eluding police and driving on a suspended license, records show.
Pyrzyk has two active suspensions for previous convictions for similar charges and he also had an active traffic warrant out for his arrest for driving with a suspended license.
Court records show Pyrzyk is being held on additional charges of burglary, grand theft, fraud, and dealing in stolen property.