ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla.-- Friday started out like any other in St. Johns County but that all changed with one phone call.
"The Sheriff's Office received a report that a victim in St. Johns County was walking in her community when a white male approached her with a firearm and attempted to rob her," Sgt. Chuck Mulligan said.
That woman, who we learned was in her 70's, told police an unknown suspect demanded money while she was out walking her dog on Vintage Oak Circle.
When he found out she didn't have any, he fled the scene, crashed and carjacked another vehicle. A helicopter search was launched and a code red alert was sent out.
The sheriff's office says Zachary Shull, 18 of Mississippi, and Dustin Vann, 26 of Fort Lauderdale, jumped into a car with Samantha Lindsay, 18, from Idaho. Deputies found the vehicle at a nearby convenience store where Lindsay and Shull fled into the woods. Both were caught shortly after.
Neighbor Kathy Hart says she's shaken up.
"Very scary. I walk early in the morning, and I don't want to see something like this," she said.
The story intensifies from there. The suspects ultimately ended up at the Kangaroo gas station on State Road 16 and I-95. All three were taken into custody.
Meanwhile, about a half-hour away, Deputy Richard Thurmond was traveling southbound on State Road 13 in Fruit Cove trying to respond to the robbery call.
According to Florida Highway Patrol, he had lights and sirens going, but driver Stacey Pilinko wasn't able to move out of the way. Thurmond struck the back of her car and ended up in the fence. He was taken to UF and Shands in Jacksonville.
"He is conscious and alert," Mulligan said.
The St. Johns County Sheriff's Office still has quite a few details to figure out, including what role each suspect played.
The good news in their eyes is that the bad guys are off the street.
The bad news is that a deputy is hurt and a neighborhood is on edge.
"I don't want to have to carry a gun, but if I have to I will," Hart said.
All three suspects face numerous felony charges in St. Johns County and South Florida.
