Carjacker Arrested After Police Chase

A man accused of attempting to steal a motorcycle and then robbing the driver of a different  car at gunpoint was arrested near the junction of State Road 52 and Moon Lake Road/Sugar Creek Boulevard Wednesday. 

The arrest came after the man led Pasco County Sheriff’s deputies on a chase that ended in a crash.

The incident began when a man was shaking the hand of William Boyd, 29, at the 12024 U.S. 19 Metro PCS in Hudson, Pasco deputies said in an arrest report. Boyd squeezed the man's hand tight and pulled him close. 

Boyd told the man he was armed with a gun and threatened to shoot him if he didn’t relinquish his 2011 Yamaha motorcycle, the report said. Boyd pointed to a bulge in his waistband while making the threat.

Boyd fled Metro PCS without taking the motorcycle.

A short time later, deputies say another man gave Boyd a ride a man took Boyd for a ride in the man’s car. While in the car, Boyd placed a gun against the driver’s torso and demanded money, the report said. He told the man to withdraw money from an ATM at the Circle K at 15831 U.S. 19 in Hudson.

Boyd then ordered the driver to stay in the vehicle and contacted the driver’s wife. Boyd demanded that the wife withdraw money from the Circle K ATM.

Before receiving any money, Boyd got nervous, according to the report, and forced his hostage to drive the vehicle south on U.S. 19.

Deputies tried to perform a traffic stop on the vehicle. Boyd threw the driver out of the door and took the wheel.

He drove into a parking lot  and then drove eastbound in a westbound lane on State Road 52.

A marked patrol car gave chase. Boyd drove more than 80 mph for 6 miles and then crashed the car, according to the report. The crash happened on State Road 52, just west of Moon Lake Road.

Authorities took Boyd into custody and found a clear, rock-like substance in his pocket that tested positive for methamphetamine.

Boyd was arrested and charged with robbery with a carried weapon, kidnapping, carjacking, reckless driving with property damage, driving with a revoked or suspended license, fleeing or eluding authorities and possession of methamphetamine.

He was booked into the Land O’ Lakes Jail and remained there Thursday in lieu of $370,150 bond.