A Sumter County Deputy shot a carjacker twice in the stomach as he flees with an infant in the car.
On Tuesday, February 7, 2017, at approximately 12:31 PM, an FHP Trooper conducted a traffic stop of a 2003 Toyota sedan on I-75 near the 329 milepost in Sumter County for seatbelt and faulty equipment violations.
During this traffic stop, the driver of the vehicle, Dillon Martin, 23 of Floral City, was taken into custody for driving with a suspended driver license and drug violations.
Once the driver was arrested, the passenger of the vehicle, Douglas Martin, 27 and also of Floral City, fled from the stop on foot.
As FHP Troopers searched for Douglas Martin, he was later observed by a Sumter Sheriff’s Deputy carjack a 2003 Chevy Malibu along I-75 from a female driver and her infant.
The Sumter County Deputy confronted Douglas Martin who then began to drive off with the infant while dragging the Deputy with the vehicle. The Deputy fired at Martin, striking him twice in the stomach. The Deputy was uninjured during the encounter.
After driving off from the Deputy, a pursuit of Martin ensued northbound on I-75 into Marion County. At SR-200, Martin exited and traveled southbound on SR-200 into Citrus County where at East Olive Lane he lost control of the vehicle.
Martin traveled into a ditch parallel to the roadway and collided with the embankment causing minor damage to the vehicle.
Members of the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office, Citrus County Sheriff’s Office and the FHP worked together as Martin was then detained and transported to an area hospital for medical care. The infant was unharmed during the incident and returned to the parents.
Information obtained by Sgt Steve Gaskin, Public Affairs Officer for the Florida Highway Patrol.