Man drove on rims, hit two patrol cars during high-speed chase in stolen truck through Lake County, deputies say

LAKE COUNTY, Fla. — A man was arrested Friday afternoon after a high speed chase in a stolen truck that ended when after he hit two Lake County patrol cars, according to deputies.

Darren Mercer, 24, was allegedly driving a stolen truck that was spotted during a burglary at Ranger Construction in Sorrento Thursday night, deputies said.

A deputy in the area spotted the Dodge flatbed pulling a trailer on County Road 437 Friday afternoon. The deputy tried to pull Mercer over, but he instead started speeding up.

Read more: Dashcam, aerial footage released in high-speed chase on Florida Turnpike

More deputies tried to pull Mercer over, but he kept going, even continuing after deputies threw out stop sticks twice, according to deputies.

Mercer was eventually driving on rims, deputies said. When he went northbound on the turnpike, he rammed into two Lake County Sheriff’s Office patrol cars, and the chase ended on the Florida Turnpike at West Colonial Drive.

Mercer was arrested and charged with burglary, fleeing police, driving with a suspended license, grand theft auto, aggravated battery against a law-enforcement officer and grand theft in connection with the stolen property in the vehicle from the burglary.

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