- A Florida deputy got a lift from a rideshare driver mid-chase.
- The suspect ran off with a backpack during a traffic stop.
- Minivan with Mario Kart in back helped end the police chase.
Police officers have a wild job that sometimes takes very unexpected turns. What none of us likely had on our traffic stop Bingo card was a cop catching an Uber mid-pursuit. Well buckle up because that’s what happened when one suspect ran from a stop in Florida.
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The incident began when deputies pulled over a vehicle and questioned the occupants. During the stop, one suspect admitted there was marijuana inside the car. As an officer prepared to check the vehicle to ensure there was nothing else illegal inside, the situation escalated.
One suspect then exited the vehicle and ignored repeated commands to leave a backpack behind. Instead, he tossed the bag to another man already standing outside the car.
A Bag Toss Turns Into a Run
That second suspect didn’t hesitate. He grabbed the pack and bolted. Bodycam footage shows the deputy giving chase on foot but only after pausing briefly to assess the situation and the safety of his backup officer.
By the time he began running after the suspect with the pack, there was quite a large gap between the two. That’s when a Mario Kart-carrying citizen rolled up in a Toyota Sienna minivan with the side door open like it was a diamond heist getaway.
“Get in!” shouts the driver and the officer complies. We can audibly hear the Toyota probably working closer to its performance envelope than it has in recent years as the pair hurdle toward the direction of the suspect.
A Video Game Moment on the Street
Moments later, they catch up and the officer hops out, now ahead of the suspect, with his taser drawn. The chase ends quickly at that point, all thanks to an Uber driver in a minivan.
Before driving off, the rideshare driver checked to make sure the officer was okay. The deputy thanked him, and the driver replied simply, “Glad I could help.” The local sheriff’s office leaned into the Mario Kart angle since it was available to play in the back seat of the Toyota.
“What started as a traffic stop turned intense foot chase… got a serious power-up when the most legendary rideshare driver in history rolled up and told the deputy ‘let’s-a-go’! Complete with Mario Kart in the backseat because apparently this driver stays ready for ANY kind of race. Mamma mia, what a save! Thanks again for the lift!” it said in a post. Hopefully, this won’t become a common occurrence.