FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. ā Stephen Nitsch was arrested Thursday after leading police on a chase in a stolen Corvette alongĀ Interstate 95.
With a flat tire, he ran out of the car. He attemptedĀ to jump through a drive-by window at the Snappers Fish & Chicken restaurant on the corner of NorthwestĀ Third Street and Northwest Sixth Avenue.
A frightenedĀ Cornisha Flanders moved quickly. SheĀ closed the window and officers surroundedĀ Nitsch, 33, Wednesday afternoon.Ā
Detective Tracy Figone, a spokeswoman for the Fort Lauderdale Police Department, said the chase began about 5 p.m. at theĀ 1500 block of NortheastĀ 18th Avenue, where there was a burglary.Ā
After stealing the Corvette in Fort Lauderdale's Victoria Park neighborhood,Ā NitschĀ was speeding northbound on I-95. He drove ontoĀ the exit rampĀ on Atlantic Boulevard, where police in an unmarked SUVĀ attempted to stop him.
The officers in the SUV rammed into the Corvette.
Nitsch abandoned the car in the middle of Northwest Sixth Avenue. HeĀ took off running around the restaurant building.
Lewis Mohorn Jr. said he saw him "running for his life." There were helicopters and dozens of police officers. After theĀ Snappers Fish & Chicken employee closed the drive-through windowĀ so Nitsch couldn't jumpĀ in,Ā Ercelia Hudson said she saw officers quickly "tackleĀ him down" and arrestĀ him.Ā
Nitsch is facing charges of burglary, auto theft and fleeing and eluding police. He is expected to appear in Broward County court Thursday.