Shirtless man suspected of attempted murder swipes patrol car, then carjacks SUV before being nabbed: officials
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A shirtless attempted-slay suspect in Florida took off in a police car and wound up pulling over an unsuspecting woman, stealing her vehicle and then crashing it before finally being taken into custody, cops say.
The dangerous drama began when Armando Lopez, 52, allegedly tried to kill his 30-year-old ex-girlfriend during an argument in Key Largo on Dec. 22.
According to the arrest affidavit, he threw her against a glass object, severely beat her and told her that “today would be the day she dies.” He also allegedly stuffed her mouth with a cleaning rag drenched with Fabuloso, a chemical cleaner, and tried to strangle her.
“My dad is in my house hitting my mom to death,” Lopez’s stricken daughter told a 911 operator, according to a recording of the call obtained by local WPLG.
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While authorities were responding to the 911 call, Lopez attacked Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. James Hager, who had already arrived at the scene, cops said.
In the struggle, Lopez tried and failed to steal the deputy’s gun from his holster, authorities said. Hager also tried and failed to taser Lopez.
Lopez then allegedly clambered into Hager’s patrol car and sped off.
“He just stole my patrol car!” Hager is heard saying in body-cam footage that only surfaced last week. “He’s running northbound. Lights are on. He tried to take my gun from my holster.”
The patrol car’s dashcam footage shows Lopez driving erratically on the highway, pushing 100 mph.
At one point, he starts flashing his lights and pulls over an unsuspecting 46-year-old woman in an SUV who was under the impression she was being hailed down by a real cop, according to officials.85
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Lopez yanked on the woman’s door and repeatedly told her to get out of her vehicle, cops said. She eventually obliged, clearly confused and stunned as Lopez ditched his stolen cruiser and took off in her SUV, authorities said.
Not long after, he crashed the SUV, causing it to roll over on the highway. He was stuck pinned beneath the vehicle when officer rolled up and finally took him into custody.
Lopez remains in an MCSO jail, where he is being held without bond on a slew of different charges, including those he racked up during his run from authorities, such as impersonating an officer and eluding law enforcement.
