JSO patrol car crashes into building during pursuit

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A Jacksonville police officer crashed through a Westside building during a chase Tuesday.

Police were trying to pull a driver over on the Southside, when that driver took off. It started a chase and caused the crash into a business on the Westside.

Bricks and broken glass are what’s left of the building. Thomas Broering owns the tax office. He still can’t believe what happened, “They told me there was a car inside it and I should come down and take a look,” said Broering.

Broering told Action News he got the call early Tuesday morning, that a Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office police car crashed into his building, “When I pulled up they were actually pulling the police car out of this spot right here,” said Broering, indicating the point of impact.

JSO told Action News, everything happened around 1 a.m. Tuesday during a traffic stop. Police say Izel Brown drove off leading police on a chase from the Southside to the Westside, that’s when the driver made a sharp turn at the intersection of Gilmore Street and McDuff Avenue. The officer crashed into the business.

Anna Williams heard the crash, she lives right next door, “I was looking, it could have been in my yard. It was so close.”

JSO tells Action News Izel Brown was arrested. He is charged with driving with suspended license. He is also a habitual traffic offender, authorities said.