A Florida family is taking the Pasco Sheriff’s Office to court after a high-speed pursuit in New Port Richey ended with a fleeing driver hitting a landscaper on July 8, 2021. Carlos Hernandez was mowing grass outside a Dollar General in New Port Richey when Samantha Harvey, who had taken a Toyota with keys inside, struck him with the vehicle.

Pasco County Chase Details

Deputies initially chased Harvey at high speeds before losing sight of the car and calling off the pursuit. After locating the vehicle through GPS, deputies re-engaged the chase alongside a tracking helicopter. Harvey stated in a deposition that she noticed four police cruisers and stop sticks in the road as she approached Little Road and Nassau Drive.

Harvey testified that she ran off the pavement to avoid the stop sticks, striking Hernandez on his lawnmower. The crash caused permanent, severe damage to Hernandez’s arm and brain, leaving him unable to work or handle basic daily tasks. His family of four was forced to move in with relatives due to lost income.

Florida Police Pursuit Lawsuit

Sarah and Carlos Hernandez sued the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, alleging deputies violated internal chase guidelines. The family argues that law enforcement had safer options, including engine kill-switches, continuous helicopter tracking, or GPS monitoring. The Pasco Sheriff’s Office denies any liability for the injuries, stating that the deputies involved acted within agency policy and did not cause Hernandez’s injuries.

Original reporting: Tampa Bay Florida News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.