Carjacking suspects arrested after chase

A Tampa man and two teenagers were arrested after leading deputies on a 60-mile chase in a carjacked pickup truck early Sunday, officials said.

The three suspects are accused of stealing the 1997 Dodge pickup at 6:23 a.m. Sunday from a man and woman stopped at a traffic light at County Road 475 and State Road 48 in Bushnell in Sumter County. The three bumped the truck from behind, forced the two people out and stole the vehicle, officials said.

Soon after, Sumter deputies saw the stolen pickup traveling on Interstate 75 near State Road 48. They started pursuing it and soon were joined by Bushnell police.

The chase continued south on I-75 through Hernando and Pasco counties and into Hillsborough County. Hillsborough deputies and Florida Highway Patrol troopers also became involved.

In Hillsborough, the truck veered off I-75 near State Road 60 and stopped at about 7 a.m.

All three men were arrested on carjacking charges. Deputies also recovered a revolver.

Arrested were Curtis Gerrard Boyd, 20, of 2207 N 27th St. in Tampa; Kelly Toddrick Johnson, 17, address unknown, and Jonathon Williams, 16, of 13th Avenue.

Boyd also was charged in a separate carjacking that happened at 10:40 p.m. Saturday at the intersection of Palm River and Falkenburg roads in Hillsborough County. He was charged with carjacking, armed robbery and grand theft in that incident. The two others were not charged in that incident as of late Sunday, but the investigation was continuing.

Deputies said the driver of a black 1994 Nissan Sentra was struck in the rear while stopped at a stop sign. When he got out to check the damage, three men emerged from a Ford pickup truck behind him, brandishing handguns. One took the Nissan and the two others returned to the truck and left. The Nissan had not been recovered as of late Sunday.