MARY ESTHER, Fla. – The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) said today that a suspect driving a stolen car fled from deputies Monday in Mary Esther and deliberately rammed a deputy’s patrol car in an effort to get away.
Chad Ebanks, 20, of Destin, is charged with fleeing and eluding, grand theft of a motor vehicle, aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, providing false identification, and failure to appear on a grand theft charge, the OCSO said.
Deputies were attempting a traffic stop on the stolen car when Ebanks reportedly hit the patrol SUV, got out, and ran. Deputies said they found him shortly afterward hiding underneath a vehicle in the Santa Rosa Mall Parking lot.
The deputy in the patrol vehicle was not injured.
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The OCSO said Ebanks initially provided a false name and age but was later positively identified by OCSO booking personnel.
