ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Manatee County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) deputies arrested a man after he allegedly battered an Uber driver, stole his vehicle and crashed it into light poles.
At about 12:18 a.m. on Dec. 21, Leo Paul Bradley, 26, allegedly punched the driver in the 3500 block of First Street West in Bradenton after refusing to pay in advance for a ride from Bradenton to Tampa, according to a police report. Bradley allegedly stole the vehicle, which deputies spotted within minutes of a report, fleeing eastbound on Manatee Avenue West.
A pursuit was initiated, and Bradley switched directions, heading west toward Anna Maria Island, later striking a deputy’s patrol vehicle, according to the report. The MCSO helicopter followed the SUV as it left the Island and nearly collided with oncoming traffic. Bradley allegedly continued to drive erratically to the 6700 block of Manatee Avenue West, where he drove the stolen vehicle into a light pole, knocking the pole into the roadway. He continued east, knocking down another light pole, coming to a stop in a ditch. Multiple MCSO units surrounded the vehicle.
Fire and EMS removed Bradley and transported him to HCA Florida Blake Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Bradley was arrested for battery, motor vehicle theft, causing an accident involving a vehicle and aggravated fleeing with damage. The pursuit covered about 20 miles along dry roads with minimal traffic for about 17 minutes.
There were no injuries to any MCSO personnel.
