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Man Sprayed Deputies, Stole Car, Officials Say

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By CHRIS ECHEGARAY, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 11, 2008

Updated: 01/11/2008 12:15 am

TAMPA - A 36-year-old man was at large Thursday night after stealing a deputy's cruiser, dragging another deputy 75 feet and slamming through three fences at Logan Gate subdivision, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.

Before taking the 2007 Crown Victoria, the suspect used pepper spray on two deputies during the incident that started at 6 p.m., officials say.

Deputies are looking for Walter John Brois III, who has outstanding warrants in Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas and Orange counties. Warrants include felony petty theft, dealing in stolen property, grand theft auto and false imprisonment/kidnapping, said sheriff's spokeswoman Debbie Carter.

The incident began with a traffic stop when deputies spotted a motorcycle rider speeding and doing wheelies, Carter said in a news release.

The rider lost control of the bike after a U-turn in Logan Gate subdivision in northwestern Hillsborough County. Deputies John Footman and Kevin Bennett pulled him over and tried to subdue him.

When they wrestled with Brois, he pulled out a can of pepper spray and used it on the deputies, Carter said. They handcuffed him with his hands behind his back and put him in the back of Footman's cruiser.

The deputies called fire rescue for treatment for the pepper spray. In the meantime, two more sheriff's cruisers arrived and Brois slipped his handcuffs to the front of his body, Carter said. Deputy Henry Alvarez heard Brois complaining of chest pain.

Alvarez sought treatment for Brois, but he shoved away the fire rescue workers and got into Footman's cruiser, Carter said. As Brois started to drive away, Alvarez jumped in the driver's side and tried to turn off the car but fell and was dragged 75 feet before falling away from the car, Carter said. Footman also tried to turn off the car but was unable to.
Brois drove through three fences, jumped an embankment and bailed out, Carter said.

Shortly after, deputies received a call from someone in the subdivision about the theft of a maroon 1990 Chevrolet pickup.

Alvarez complained of back pain and was taken to a hospital, Carter said.

Brois, who has no known address, is described as white, 5 feet, 8 inches tall, 180 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes, Carter said.

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