ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – Deputies with the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office were on the scene Thursday afternoon of a vehicle rollover possibly involving suspects wanted in connection with an armed robbery in Holly Hill and possibly at a Walgreens in St. Johns County.
Deputies said two men and a woman were arrested at the scene of the crash on U.S. Highway 1 South, just north of state Road 206, about 2:30 p.m. Thursday.
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Deputies said the suspect vehicle, a gray Ford pickup truck with a Utah license plate, was spotted in Volusia County and was pursued into Flagler County. The chase continued into St. Johns County via A1A South and then westbound on state Road 206. Flagler County deputies chased the vehicle into St. Johns County at speeds of nearly 100 mph before the rollover crash, deputies said.
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Deputies said they deployed spike strips as the truck turned off state Road 206 onto U.S. 1. They said the truck eventually veered into a patrol car and rolled over. Deputies said one man was thrown from the car and tried to run away but was quickly caught. All three were taken to Flagler Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. One deputy car was damaged, but no deputies were injured.
"We do have guards on the three individuals as the investigation continues," said Sgt. Chuck Mulligan, of the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office.
There was heavy a law enforcement presence in the area near the Library Annex, causing traffic delays.
"All of a sudden, I heard a big bang and looked over and saw the cop car do a pin maneuver," said Joe Barbot, who was working across the street at the time. "I saw the truck spin and go into the ditch. The man flew out the back and he tried to run. The cops all drew their guns and surrounded him, and he went down to the ground. It was pretty amazing."
Deputies have been looking for a man who they said robbed a Walgreens pharmacy in the 100 block of Blackford Way near U.S. Highway 1 South just after 2 p.m. Wednesday.
Deputies said the robber walked into the pharmacy, handed the pharmacist a note demanding several narcotic medications and threatened him if he did not comply.
The robber then lifted his shirt and displayed a handgun, deputies said.
The pharmacist got the medication and gave it to the robber, who then fled the store, deputies said.
The robber was described as a white man, about 5 feet 8 inches tall and between 150 and 160 pounds, with dark hair. He was wearing a black T-shirt, camouflage shorts, dark shoes and dark sunglasses.
Deputies said the man was also believed to be wanted in connection with a similar robbery of a Walgreens pharmacy in Holly Hill in Volusia County on Tuesday. In that robbery, the man was wearing a gray shirt.