Police pursuit ends in crash in Fort Lauderdale

Carjacking suspect arrested after leading police on chase

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – A 31-year-old man who Fort Lauderdale police believe is responsible for an armed carjacking was arrested Thursday. 

Ryan Pearson led police on a pursuit that came to an end Thursday afternoon in Fort Lauderdale after a crash. He then attempted to run away, but was arrested shortly after. 

Pearson approached a man from behind, grabbed his shoulder and implied that he had a gun, police said. The victim then ran away and called police. 

 Pearson then approached two women who were leaving their vehicle, demanded their cellphones and car keys and implied he had a gun while holding his hand under his shirt, police said. 

The stolen SUV was later spotted in the northbound lanes of Interstate 95. The SUV headed east on Cypress Creek Road, crashing into a stop sign and some bushes near the Moonlight Diner.

"The truck came and turned, and it was was smoking and everything," Ray Ronaldo, who witnessed the chase, said.

Police said the suspect bailed out of the SUV and ran along the nearby Tri-Rail tracks, but police quickly apprehended him.

"I have worked here for a while now, and I have not seen anything like that since I have been over here," Seein Definate said.

One police officer's forehead was bleeding after the takedown. He told Local 10 News that he got cut running through some bushes in pursuit of the suspect.

The SUV had to be towed from the scene.

Pearson was arrested on charges of armed carjacking, and fleeing and eluding.