Sebring Man Arrested After Cop Chase

SEBRING - A Sebring man remained in Highlands County Jail in lieu of $38,000 bond Monday after sheriff's deputies say he ran from the Florida Highway Patrol early Sunday, injured a deputy putting down spike strips, and was fired upon by a pursuing deputy.

Timothy Allen Amann, 48, of 1126 Josephine Court, was booked on charges of aggravated assault with intent to commit a felony, fleeing attempting to elude a law enforcement officer with disregard to the safety of persons or property, resisting a law enforcement officer without violence, driving with a suspended driver's license, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (DUI) and refusal to submit to a DUI test.

He was additionally charged by the Florida Highway Patrol with DUI, refusal to submit to a breath test after license suspended and driving while driver's license suspended.

Sunday, the patrol called the sheriff's office to tell them they were pursuing a suspected drunk driver in a Dodge pickup truck headed south through Sebring on U.S. 27 near Hammock Road. Sheriff's Sgt. Kyle Albritton reported he took over the pursuit as the troopers discontinued the pursuit.

Deputy William Gentry was ahead of the driver preparing to lay some spike strips when the pickup truck swerved in his direction, the report stated.

Sheriff's Lt. Tim Lethbridge said Monday he was in charge of the investigation of the events at the conclusion of the pursuit. That includes the pursuit, the shooting and the aggravated assault.

"The deputy was being honest," Lethbridge said. "He couldn't say if the vehicle struck (his hand) or if he was injured while pushing off the vehicle."

In any case the report stated that Gentry had to jump out of the way of the pickup truck to prevent from being run over. It is hard for deputies to say if the driver was trying to hit the deputy or to avoid the spike strips.

Believing that Amann had tried to run down Gentry, deputy Michael Grieco Jr. fired two shots at the pickup truck. At least one struck the driver's door. It is unclear if the second hit the truck tire or if it hit one of the spikes.

Amann drove past his address on Josephine Court, when he abandoned the truck. He headed into a canal, where deputies converged on his location. Sheriff's K-9 deputy Luis Pratts-Martinez and his partner Blue helped to find him, Lethbridge said.

"He told us he was out celebrating almost getting to the end of his probation," Lethbridge said.
He was on probation for a misdemeanor traffic offense from July 10, 2007, in St. Lucie County, Lethbridge said.

Deputy Gentry is fine. His hand is a little sore, Lethbridge said.

Other deputies on scene believed it was a very close call, he said.