Rider Punched Uber Driver, Stole SUV In Bradenton: Watch

BRADENTON, FL — A man faces charges after punching his Uber driver, stealing his SUV and crashing it into light poles early Thursday morning, according to a Manatee County Sheriff’s Office news release.

Leo Paul Bradley, 26, was arrested for battery, motor vehicle theft, causing an accident involving a vehicle and aggravated fleeing with damage following a 17-minute-long pursuit by deputies over 20 miles, the agency said. (Watch an aerial video of the pursuit below.)

Bradley, who refused to pay in advance for a ride from Bradenton to Tampa, punched the Uber driver in the 3500 block of 1st Street W. just after midnight, the sheriff’s office said.

During the altercation, he knocked the driver to the ground and stole his SUV, which deputies spotted heading east on Manatee Avenue W. within minutes of it being reported stolen.

Deputies pursued Bradley, who switched directions, heading west toward Anna Maria Island, and later hit a patrol vehicle, MCSO said. The agency’s helicopter followed the SUV as it left the island and nearly hit oncoming traffic.

Bradley continued to drive erratically to the 6700 block of Manatee Avenue W., where he drove the stolen vehicle into a light pole, knocking it into the road. As he continued east, he knocked down another light pole, coming to a stop in a ditch.

Deputies surrounded the SUV and firefighters and EMS responders took Bradley out of the SUV and brought him to Blake Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

No deputies were injured during the incident.

Watch an aerial video of deputies pursuing the stolen SUV: