A guy from Florida took a plea deal after police searched for him for several days after he crashed his stolen emergency vehicle while taking it for a fun ride.
Greg Gregory McGall, 36, agreed to a plea deal on Thursday that will put him in jail for 25 years.
On March 22, the 26-year-old man committed crimes in Tampa, Florida. Prosecutors said at a hearing in Hillsborough County Court that he would have faced life in jail if he had not agreed to the terms.
The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) says that on March 22 at around 2 a.m., emergency workers in an American Medical Response (AMR) Chevy Tahoe were called to a crash.
Police said the driver, who was later identified as McGall, was in a crash on the highway while driving a stolen pickup truck.
McGall is said to have jumped into the AMR car and driven off while the probe was going on.
Dash cam video showed McGall behind the wheel of the car that had been stolen during a high-speed chase. Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) officers were told about the theft and went after the suspect before they lost sight of him.
McGall broke a laptop when he drove carelessly folded it backward and then threw it out the window.
Authorities say McGall’s fun ride ended quickly when he crashed into a grassy fenced field.
The FHP said McGall ran away after the accident, and the police later found the car.
The carjacker wasn’t found until March 26 when HCSO officers saw McGall in a silver Nissan Altima. Police said that the 42-year-old driver of the car was Jerry Skidmore, who had warrants out for his arrest.
When police saw the car at a gas station, they pulled McGall and Skidmore over and arrested them. Authorities said the two wanted people tried to escape but were quickly stopped.
Sheriff Chad Chronister praised the officers’ work in catching the two men who were “wanted for serious crimes.”
“This operation exemplifies the dedication and coordination of our specialized units,” he said. “Because they worked so hard, we were able to arrest two people wanted for serious crimes and keep our community safe.” I want to thank everyone in the Auto Theft Unit for their great work.
McGall was caught and charged with hitting someone with a weapon, assault, grand theft of a motor vehicle, and carjacking.
Assaulting police with a deadly weapon, fleeing and trying to elude, and having drug paraphernalia were some of the charges against Skidmore.
