JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Two men are in custody after they led police on a chase that resulted in a crash with injuries on Beach Boulevard, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.
At 1:04 a.m. Monday, an employee at at San Pablo Road Gate gas station observed three men in black masks enter the store. One of the men started putting cigarettes in a bag and told her "Don't move," according to an incident report. The men then took her purse, which had her car keys inside, and drove off.
At about 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, officers saw a reported stolen silver Chevy Equinox on Gate Parkway. The report said the officer attempted to stop the vehicle, but it sped through the parking lot of CrossRoad Church before heading back onto Gate Parkway. It attempted to enter Deerwood Campus Parkway, running through a security gate before it got back on Gate Parkway, the report said.
Noah Wilkins, 24, was charged with flee or eluding an officer, reckless driving, leaving the scene of a crash, resisting an officer without violence and possessing a controlled substance and operating a vehicle while license is suspended, cancelled or revoked. Timothy Underwood, 29, was charged with possessing a controlled substance, resisting an officer without violence and trespassing.
Police determined Wilkins was the driver. Officers confiscated a firearm between the open passenger door and the front passenger seat of the SUV, the report said.
The car traveled on Southside Boulevard, weaving in and out of traffic and using the median to pass cars before making it to Beach Boulevard, the report said. The vehicle also hit a a car head on when trying to turn right onto University Boulevard.
The report said an officer drew his firearm as Wilkins and Underwood crawled out from the car and fled on foot north on University Boulevard. The officer struck and arrested Underwood near 3325 University Blvd., the report said.
Wilkins was spotted near the closed Piccadilly Cafeteria and into the parking lot of another gas station, was tased when confronted by an officer and later arrested.
Both suspects were taken to UF Shands Hospital with minor injuries.