Search Continues For Man Who Struck Dade City Officer With Car

DADE CITY, FL - A Dade City police officer was injured when a fleeing car struck him while he was investigating a possible drug transaction Saturday night, deputies said. Officer Kevin Burns, 38, was struck near the intersection of State Street and Moceri Avenue in Dade City about 9:58 p.m. He was flown to a local hospital and is in serious but stable condition.

The Pasco County Sheriff's Office reported that the officer was intentionally struck as he approached a gray four-door sedan, which he had stopped in the roadway in the 14000 block of State Street. The man drove the car at Burns, hitting him and carrying him about 30 feet before he fell off the hood. When the suspect fled, a backup officer identified as Miguel Velez, 27, fired at the vehicle. The suspect turned west onto Marshall Avenue, struck a dark blue Ford Fusion and escaped.

The vehicle has been identified as a 2018 Nissan Altima with a Florida tag 770YRV. It is believed that the vehicle's windows may have been broken during the encounter. Additionally, the vehicle has front end damage on the driver's side, deputies said. Detectives say they want to speak with Devyne Fields, 19, a person of interest in the incident. The vehicle is a rental car owned by Hertz and was reported stolen in Tampa on Nov. 6.

Velez has been placed on administrative leave according to department policy, pending further investigation into the shooting.

If you know the location of the vehicle or subject, or have any information about this incident, call the Pasco County Sheriff's Office Crime TipsLine at 1-800-706-2488 or Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay at 1-800-873-TIPS (8477).

Image via Shutterstock; 2nd image of Devyne Fields via Pasco County Sheriff's Office