Land O' Lakes,Fla.(970 WFLA)-The Hernando County Sheriff's Office warned Pasco Deputies to be on the lookout for a suspect that battered one of their officers while resisting arrest.
With handcuffs dangling from one wrist, the suspect, 34 year old Paul Daniel Smith, managed to jump behind the wheel of a blue Ford F-150 pick-up truck and speed away from the injured Hernando Deputy. Smith was heading south towards Pasco County.
Pasco Sheriff Deputy Marc Lane spotted the speeding pick-up on U.S 41 in Land O'Lakes and started to pursue the vehicle.
The truck turned into the Lake Thomas area, that's where Smith lost control. The truck hit a pole and a mailbox. As the truck slowed down, a passenger, identified as 31 year old Tara Berger jumped out, deputies quickly captured her. Smith jumped out of the vehicle and ran off into a heavily wooded swamp.
Pasco K-Nine Deputy Rob Wilkins with K9 Knox and Corporal Andrew Denbo, tracked Smith through the muck and brush. The officers found him hiding, almost completely submerged in the mud, and as you'll see in the video took Smith into custody.
Smith was arrested for flee to elude, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, and violation of probation. Hernando Sheriff's Office is pursuing warrants for multiple felony charges in their jurisdiction. Tara Berger was arrested for lying to a law enforcement officer during a felony investigation.
Photo and Video Credit: Pasco Sheriff's Office