Early this morning, Historic City News crime patrol reporters learned that the St. Augustine Police Department arrested a local man seen fleeing from a US-1 gas station — only after he led officers on a car chase and short foot race in an unsuccessful attempt to avoid capture.
At about 6:53 a.m. this morning, Officer Collins observed a car leaving the Martin Oil Company located on South Ponce de Leon Boulevard at SR-207. Within a few seconds, police received a call that the store had been robbed.
Collins followed the car to the parking lot of the Cobblestone Village Shopping Center on SR-312. When he attempted to stop the vehicle, the driver took off; leading police on a chase that ended with the driver crashing his car on Woodlawn Road; north of SR-16.
Police say that the driver, 29 year-old Jared Matthew Bruge, whose residence is 61 Andora Street in St. Augustine attempted to elude the officer; however, with assistance from the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, police were able to prevent any injuries to others.
Officers Collins and Garmon had a short foot chase with Bruge, after the collision. When Bruge tried to escape by climbing over a fence, officers shot him with a Taser so that he could be handcuffed.
Other officers and Chief Loran Lueders arrived at the crash scene and secured the area.
Investigators continue working on leads to see if Bruge is involved in other robberies in the area.
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