Newly released dashcam footage shows a Lake City police officer jumping into the back of a pickup as the driver speeds away.
Officer Stuart Robinson was seriously injured after he was tossed around in the back of the pickup and thrown out of the bed, according to police.
Officials with Lake City Police Department said Robinson is improving but has a long road to recovery.
Timothy Bevington owns a business near where officers found Robinson after he was thrown from the truck.
“Oh, wow. He jumped in the back of the truck. He’s got guts, that for sure,” Bevington said after watching the video.
Detectives say officers stopped Breon Pope near the intersection of US 90 and Sisters Welcome Road.
Officers said Pope began to accelerate when officers tried to open his car door.
As Pope fled, Robinson jumped into the bed of the truck.
Robinson was tossed around in the suspect’s truck bed for nearly a mile as Pope swerved across the road, officers said.
Moments later, dashcam footage shows Robinson fall into a ditch next to Bevington’s shop, Road Runner Tires.
“He’s trying to protect us, that’s for sure. That’s really good to see,” Bevington said.
Officers pursued and eventually stopped Pope using a PIT maneuver. He was arrested without further incident at the scene, Lake City police said.
Robinson was flown to UF Health Gainesville in critical condition. His condition was upgraded to good the following day and he was released from the hospital a few days later.
Cox Media Group
