Just after 2:00 PM on January 9, 2024, the Florida Highway Patrol received calls from a witness who had observed a male and female having an altercation while traveling westbound on I-4 in a Kia sedan from Polk County into Hillsborough County. The witness indicated the female was yelling for help and trying to exit the vehicle.
Troopers spotted the sedan on I-4 near the 20 Milepost and the vehicle fled from an attempted traffic stop. The driver exited the interstate several times, reversing course and at one point traveled westbound in the eastbound lanes for a brief period. Reversing course for a final time, the sedan exited onto US-92 where Troopers lost sight of the vehicle.
Troopers soon located the female victim, a 27-year-old Orlando woman, at a gas station located at US-92 and Orient Road with minor, non-life threatening injuries. The injuries were a result of the victim being battered by the suspect. The victim advised she and the suspect driving her vehicle had come from Orlando when a financial dispute ensued which led to the altercation. The victim’s vehicle was later located at the Hard Rock Casino abandoned with Troopers soon learning the suspect, nicknamed “Cash” and identified as an African-American male, had been picked up by another driver and transported to an unknown location.
Please see the attached surveillance photo of the assailant. Anyone with information regarding the suspect’s identity and location is asked to call *FHP (*347) or Crime Stoppers at **TIPS.