The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office has arrested a man for diesel theft and for striking a deputy's vehicle as he fled the scene.
On July 20, 2024, at 3:43 a.m., deputies observed Kiusler Perez Ortiz, 24, at a closed Mobil gas station on Hillsborough Avenue with his vehicle parked on top of an underground diesel fuel tank's fill port.
When deputies attempted to speak with Ortiz, he refused to comply with their commands, put his car into reverse briefly and then accelerated forward rapidly, striking the rear of an unmarked HCSO vehicle and nearly striking a deputy.
Deputies pursued Ortiz on Hillsborough Avenue into Pinellas County, and he was eventually arrested in a wooded area off of Sunray Drive.
During the subsequent investigation, it was determined that Ortiz had siphoned 93 gallons of diesel fuel from the underground fuel tank when the deputies intervened.
Ortiz has been charged with:
- Aggravated Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer with a Deadly Weapon
- Fleeing to Elude High-Speed
- Reckless Driving
- Criminal Mischief $1,000 or More
- Attaching Tag Not Assigned
- Resist Without Violence
Additional charges may be forthcoming.
"I'm glad that our deputies are safe and were able to avoid any harm from this man who clearly did not want to be arrested," said Sheriff Chad Chronister. "Our patrol deputies resolved this volatile situation quickly and should be very proud of their efforts this morning."
The below booking photo is from an arrest in June 2024. A new booking photo will be provided when available upon request.
This investigation is active; any updates will come from the Public Affairs Office.