Woman Arrested After Stealing Car, Hitting Deputy: Sheriff

BRADENTON, FL — A 23-year-old woman faces multiple charges after stealing a car and trying to run over a deputy, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.

Katarina Van Fossen faces charges of motor vehicle theft, fleeing to elude, leaving the scene of a crash and the second-degree attempted murder of a law enforcement officer, MCSO said.

Deputies found the stolen white Ford Taurus Wednesday morning, but the driver, later identified as Van Fossen, got away after being involved in a crash, the sheriff’s office said. Later that day, the MCSO Aviation Unit located the car parked on the south side of Mad Marks at 3007 1st Street in Bradenton.

As deputies approached the car, Van Fossen attempted to drive out of the parking lot, but one of the responding deputies blocked her path with their unmarked vehicle, the sheriff’s office said. The deputy got out of her vehicle and told Van Fossen, who was reversing out of the parking lot, to stop.

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Van Fossen accelerated the car forward and hit the deputy, who landed on the hood. The suspect kept driving, hitting another MCSO vehicle and throwing the deputy to the ground.

Van Fossen got out of the car and was arrested by other deputies at the scene.

The injured deputy was taken to an area hospital for treatment and is in good condition, MCSO said.