ST. CLOUD, Fla. – St. Cloud police said a group of citizens helped capture a hit-and-run suspect after he struck a pedestrian and took off from the scene.
Just after 9 a.m. Sunday, officers responded to the intersection of 13th Street and Orange Avenue.
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According to a crash report, a man and a woman were walking on Oregon Avenue when an older red Jeep crashed into the man from behind, causing him to fly into the air and fall on cement. The Jeep neither stopped nor waited for first responders to arrive.
Less than 30 minutes later, the unoccupied vehicle was spotted abandoned 1.5 miles away on Lakeshore and Oregon Avenue.
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According to an arrest report, as officers were searching for the suspect, 911 operators received a call about a stolen bicycle from a nearby home. Officers met with a group of men from the home who had chased down the alleged thief and retrieved the stolen bike.
After determining the alleged thief was the driver of the Jeep involved in the earlier hit-and-run, Eric Pursell, 31, was placed under arrest. Police also found a small plastic baggie on Pursell containing what tested positive for methamphetamine, according to the arrest report.
The man who was hit was treated at the scene by paramedics and then transported to the hospital for further treatment.
Pursell was also transported to the hospital for medical clearance before being transferred to the Osceola County Jail and booked on drug possession and drug paraphernalia charges.
The investigation is ongoing.
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