By Suzie Ziegler
POLK COUNTY, Fla. — A Florida state trooper was praised for a split-second decision that may have saved a fellow cop’s life last week. Dramatic dashcam video shows a fleeing vehicle barreling toward a deputy, who was laying spike strips. At the last second, a state trooper slams into the suspect’s car, spinning it away from the unprotected deputy.
“Initially my reaction is, ‘Wow that was extremely brave, extremely courageous and extremely dangerous,’” said Danny Alvarez with Tampa’s Police Benevolent Association to WFLA.
Alvarez said the state trooper’s decision to crash his car was risky.
“I think people watch way too many movies and think that after someone crashes their car trying to save somebody else, that they’re always going to walk away. You’re looking at a video where a Florida state trooper put his life on the line to stop a dangerous situation and save the life of a fellow law enforcement officer that he probably doesn’t even know,” Alvarez said.
Back in February, Florida deputy Michael Magli was killed while deploying stop sticks.
Luckily, no one was hurt in this incident, according to WFLA.
The 20-year-old suspect driver is facing charges of grand theft auto, driving without a valid license, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, child neglect, reckless driving and fleeing to elude. A 16-year-old passenger was charged with burglary.