‘No regard for human life’: BMW driver rams Hillsborough County deputy in Tampa, HCSO says

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — A Hillsborough County deputy was seriously hurt on Friday morning after a suspect rammed him with a BMW.

The sheriff’s office said an HCSO deputy tried to pull over a driver in a black BMW on Bearss Avenue near Nebraska Avenue, however, the suspect sped off.

At 12:25 a.m., the sheriff’s office said the deputy tried to pull the BMW driver over again at Plantation Oaks Drive.

The sheriff’s office said the deputy watched the BMW driver back into a parking space. After the driver backed into the space, the deputy activated his emergency lights and exited an unmarked Chevy Tahoe.

“As he (the deputy) started to approach the vehicle, the vehicle accelerated at a very high rate of speed and struck Kalin Hall and continued. That driver had no regard for human life at that moment and fled the scene,” a sheriff’s office spokesperson said.

Deputy Kalin Hall was taken to Tampa General Hospital with a broken left leg and an injured right leg.

However, officials said he is on the road to recovery now.

“Deputy Hall has undergone a successful procedure to insert a rod into his leg after being intentionally rammed by a driver this morning,” the sheriff’s office said. “He also sustained a fracture in his other ankle, but is in good spirits.”

Hall has been with the sheriff’s office for 11 years.

Investigators said they later found the suspect’s BMW abandoned about a mile from the second stop. Detectives identified the owner of the car and took them into custody.

“This suspect’s actions have no regard for human life, choosing to ram a deputy without considering that his reckless actions could tragically impact the deputy’s life,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister. “Our deputies come to work committed to making a difference in their community with every call for service, but also knowing how dangerous this career can be, putting their lives on the line every day.”

The sheriff’s office released body camera video showing the moment the suspect rammed into Hall. The video may be difficult to watch. Viewer discretion is advised.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the sheriff’s office at 813-247-8200.

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