Stolen Cars Lead Palmetto Officers On Chase Near U.S. 301: Police

PALMETTO, FL — Two cars stolen in nearby counties led Palmetto police on a chase near U.S. 301 Tuesday morning.

Palmetto officers arrested two people inside a Lowe’s store, police said. Manatee County sheriff’s deputies found a third in a nearby wooded area, police said. The arrested people were not identified.

One of the suspects injured an ankle during the incident, police said. No other injuries were reported.

Officers were sent to the area of the Walmart near the highway around 6:30 a.m. to look for a Subaru that had been stolen in Hernando County, police said. The car’s theft deterrent system pinged near the store, according to a news release from Palmetto police.

Officers found the Subaru, as well as a Lamborghini that was stolen in Hillsborough County, police said. When approached by officers, both cars drove away and traveled east on U.S. 301, police said.

The Lamborghini crashed in Ellenton at U.S. 301 and Gillette Road. Following the crash, the driver got into the Subaru, which continued east on U.S. 301 before heading south on I-75, police said.

They got off at the State Road 70 exit and crashed into a retention area. After the crash, three people ran from the Subaru into a nearby shopping center, police said.