Tarpon Springs, Fla. (970 WFLA)-What started out as a traffic stop turned into a police chase in Tarpon Springs.
A patrol officer watched a red Mitsubishi make a traffic violation and flipped on his emergency lights and siren. But the car sped off through a residential neighborhood running stops signs. That's when the officer ended the pursuit and alerted other officers.
Several blocks away the driver tried to head south on U.S. 19 but collided with a Toyota Highlander, causing the Toyota to flip onto its side, injuring a passenger who was taken to Florida Hospital. The Toyota driver suffered minor injuries. The Mitsubishi kept going.
Police found the car stopped, near a house in the 1900 block of Carolina Avenue, with the engine running, the driver still inside. The detective ordered the driver out, he refused, so the officer opened the car door and began to remove the driver, he resisted and the officer was forced to use his taser. The driver told the officer "I'm done", but as he was being escorted out of the car, he started struggling with the officer, back up units arrived and took him into custody.
The suspect, 34 year old Christopher Milland of Holiday, is charged with: Aggravated Fleeing to Elude, Reckless Driving, Leaving the scene of accident with injuries, Battery on LEO, Resisting arrest with violence, Warrant for Fleeing to Elude (Pasco County), additional charges may be forthcoming pending further investigation.
Milland is being treated for injuries at Florida Hospital North Pinellas.
His mug shot is from 2013 when he was arrested for driving under the influence
Photo Credit: Pasco Sheriff's Office