SARASOTA COUNTY DEPUTIES PURSUING A MOTORIST INVOLVED IN A HIT-AND-RUN ACCIDENT IN THE OSPREY AREA CAUGHT UP WITH THE DRIVER NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF CLARK AND BENEVA ROADS WHERE THE SUSPECT WAS SHOT AFTER AN EXCHANGE OF GUNFIRE. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED JUST AFTER 9:30 YESTERDAY MORNING AT NORTH TAMIAMI TRAIL AND MONTANA AVENUE, AND A RESPONDING DEPUTY SAW A DARK GREEN DODGE RAM WITH EXTENSIVE FRONT-END DAMAGE AND BEGAN TO PURSUE. THE PICKUP, WHICH WAS REPORTEDLY STOLEN, STOPPED ON NORTHBOUND BENEVA JUST SOUTH OF THE CLARK ROAD INTERSECTION. MULTIPLE CIVILIAN WITNESSES TOLD DEPUTIES THAT 30 YEAR OLD HARRY BELL GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND WAS NOT FOLLOWING COMMANDS GIVEN BY OFFICERS. THE REPORT SAYS HE WAS ACTING AGGRESSIVELY AND PRODUCED A HANDGUN; THAT’S WHEN DEPUTIES SHOT BELL. HE WAS BAYFLITED TO BAYFRONT MEDICAL CENTER IN ST. PETERSBURG FOR TREATMENT OF HIS INJURIES. A FAMILY MEMBER TOLD THE HERALD TRIBUNE THAT HE HAD BEEN SHOT IN THE HEAD AND HAD SURGERY. KNIGHT ALSO SAID A DEPUTY WAS TAKEN TO SARASOTA MEMORIAL HOSPITAL FOR A NON GUN-RELATED INJURY. DEPUTIES REPORTEDLY FOUND A HANDGUN AND A MONKEY-LIKE MASK INSIDE THE TRUCK, AND THEY CONTACTED SARASOTA POLICE WHO WERE INVESTIGATING SEVERAL RECENT ROBBERIES OF ADULT ENTERTAINMENT STORES IN WHICH THE SUSPECT USED A MASK. THE TRUCK ALSO MATCHED THE DESCRIPTION GIVEN BY WITNESSES AS DID BELL. THE INVESTIGATION CONTINUES.
