Florida man arrested, charged after mowing down Police Officer in a hit-and-run (Video)
On March 23, police in Sarasota, Florida, announced that 22-year-old Mark Thomas, of Plantation, Florida, has been arrested and charged with Aggravated Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer, and, Flee to Elude with Disregard for Safety, in connection to a hit-and-run crash that left a Sarasota Police officer injured on the evening of March 20. Both of the charges that Thomas is facing are felonies.
The injured officer is recovering after being hit by a vehicle driven by Thomas on Monday night. That hit-and-run occurred on Bird Key in the City of Sarasota.
Thomas was arrested at a probation office in Broward County on Wednesday afternoon. For one so young, Thomas already has a lengthy criminal history and has been convicted of multiple crimes since December 2019.  He was released from prison on February 2, 2023.
His previous charges include:
- Carrying a Concealed Firearm, two counts, December 2019 and July 2021,
- Grand Theft Auto, two counts, May 2021 and June 2021,
- Possession of Marijuana over 20 Grams, June 2021,
- Burglary of an Unoccupied Dwelling, May 2021, and
- Cocaine Possession, July 2021
Background:Â On March 20, Sarasota Police officers responded to Mourning Dove Drive on Bird Key at about 2 p.m. for a vehicle burglary. When officers arrived, the victims said personal items were stolen from their vehicle. Officers discovered video evidence and developed a white 4-door S-Series Mercedes as a suspect vehicle involved in the vehicle burglary.
Sarasota Police officers learned just after 5 p.m. the same white Mercedes was in a neighborhood on Longboat Key. Longboat Key police responded to a vehicle stolen from a home on Fair Oaks Place. Several people were home when the vehicle was stolen, but no one was hurt.
Sarasota Police officers received a call just after 9 p.m. that the white Mercedes had returned to Bird Key. Video of the Mercedes entering and exiting Bird Key can be viewed at https://youtu.be/4r76TdhSGmQ
Sarasota Police officers strategically placed their patrol vehicles at the entrance / exit to stop the Mercedes from leaving Bird Key.
Officers at the entrance / exit learned the Mercedes was driving back towards them. The Sarasota Police officer who was injured anticipated the Mercedes would either try and drive onto a side street or crash into one of the parked patrol vehicles. The Mercedes drove past a parked patrol car and hit the officer head-on, flipping him over the vehicle. The officer was taken to Sarasota Memorial Hospital and is now home and expected to recover fully.
Sarasota Police officers followed the Mercedes away from Bird Key as it drove east on John Ringling Causeway, north on US 41, east on Fruitville, and was abandoned in the 2900 block of Orange Avenue.
Anyone with information on this case is asked to call Detective Kim Laster at 941-263-6827 or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers by calling 941-366-TIPS or online at www.sarasotacrimestoppers.com
Video of the incident has been provided below. Police warn that the officer in the video uses strong language. Viewer discretion is advised.
Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today / Follow Richard on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram
