Authorities say a Florida woman hit two Polk County deputies with her car and was arrested on multiple charges.
Just before 1 p.m. Saturday, Lakeland deputies were called to the Max Pay Pawn Shop after a stolen credit card was used.
Upon arriving, the deputies tried speaking to 27-year-old Carina Holder of Davenport, but she jumped into a BMW X5 and attempted to get away. Holder allegedly drove directly at two of the deputies.
Sheriff’s deputies fired several times at Holder’s car while trying to stop it, but two of them were still struck by it. Deputy Melissa Myers and Deputy Sheriff Hannah Peche were not seriously injured.
She was caught two miles from the pawn shop after continuing to drive away, the sheriff’s office said. In addition to charges of aggravated battery against a law enforcement officer, armed burglary, and resisting with violence, Holder is also expected to face fraud charges.
“She began the situation with fraudulent activity, and escalated it to violence by trying to kill two deputies with her car. Fortunately, she was quickly arrested, and even more fortunate is that neither deputies sustained serious injuries.” Sheriff Grady Judd said.
According to Polk County officials, Holder has a criminal history that includes battery on a law enforcement officer and battery on an officer or firefighter.
Myers and Chaves are the two deputies who shot at Holder. Myers has been with the PCSO since October 2007, and has been a patrol deputy since December 2014. Chaves has been with the PCSO since January 2014, and has been a patrol deputy since June 2015.