Man Arrested For Crashing Into FCSO Patrol Car & Fleeing The Scene

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Palm Coast, FL - The 29-year-old man who crashed into a Flagler County Sheriff's Sergeant's patrol car then fled the scene was arrested in Palm Coast after a six-hour multi-agency manhunt on Thursday. Sean Ryan Fitzpatrick hit that patrol car with his green Chevrolet pickup truck on State Road 100 near I-95. There was only minor damage to the Sergeant's vehicle and no one was hurt. Fitzpatrick fled the scene, driving north on Colbert Ln., then lost control of the truck and crashed near Waterfront Park. He then fled on foot through the brush and ended up swimming in canals to try to get away from the deputies who were searching for him. FCSO turned to social media to let the community know what was going on and to ask for tips. A few tips came in which helped deputies find and speak with Fitzpatrick. While he was in a canal, Fitzpatrick told deputies he would keep running because he didn't want to go back to prison. “At that point, we knew that we had a serious dirtbag on our hands and we needed to apprehend him before he committed a more serious crime,” Sheriff Rick Staly said. "We were going to do what was necessary to put him in my Green Roof Inn and protect this community." Hours later and deputies, K-9 units, and helicopters continued to put pressure on Fitzpatrick, who eventually came out of the brush and headed down a path near St. Marks Church and the SunTrust Bank on Palm Coast Pkwy. Deputies surrounded him and, with the threat of being tased, he surrendered and was taken into custody. “This was great team work on a very hot summer day,” Sheriff Staly said, who was at the scene for almost five hours. "We are continuing our investigation and believe he has been involved in significant criminal activity since being released from prison." According to FCSO, Fitzpatrick has a long rap sheet dating back to 2008 for charges including grand theft auto, burglary, larceny, fraud, and fleeing and eluding a police officer. He was just released from prison in October of 2016 after serving a five-year sentence. During the manhunt, FCSO was assisted by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the Bunnell Police Department, the Flagler Beach Police Department, the Volusia County Sheriff's Office, and Flagler County Fire Flight.

(From left to right: K-9 Deputy Tag, Corporal Robert Tarczewski, and Flagler County Fire Flight)

(Sheriff Staly with deputies on the scene during the search)

Photos courtesy FCSO. Copyright Southern Stone Communications 2017.
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