Man steals nearly 100 gallons of diesel fuel from Tampa gas station: HCSO

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — A man was arrested for stealing 93 gallons of diesel fuel from an underground fuel tank at a Tampa gas station on Saturday.

Around 3:43 a.m., Hillsborough County deputies approached 24-year-old Kiusler Perez Ortiz at a Mobil gas station on Hillsborough Avenue, which was closed at the time.

Officials said Ortiz’s vehicle was parked over the underground diesel fuel tank’s fill port.

Ortiz refused to speak with deputies and quickly accelerated his vehicle, striking the back of an HCSO patrol car, and nearly striking a deputy.

According to the sheriff’s office, they pursued Ortiz into Pinellas County, where he was later arrested off Sunray Drive in a wooded area.

“I’m glad that our deputies are safe and were able to avoid any harm from this man who clearly did not want to be arrested,” Sheriff Chad Chronister said. “Our patrol deputies resolved this volatile situation quickly and should be very proud of their efforts this morning.”

Ortiz was charged with aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer with a deadly weapon, fleeing to elude at a high speed, reckless driving, criminal mischief of over $1,000, attaching a tag not assigned, and resisting without violence.

This remains an ongoing investigation.

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