The Sheriff’s Office received reports of a man attempting to flag down cars on Spring Lake Highway and Dallas Drive. He eventually managed to stop a Florida Highway Patrol trooper on Wednesday, July 17, around 5:20 pm. He stated that he’d just been robbed at gunpoint.
The investigation revealed the victim went to a house on Dallas Drive to sell drugs. The suspect, Dwayne Marcquize Harris, got into the victim’s car and stole the drugs at gunpoint. He then forced the victim into the trunk of another vehicle.
The victim escaped the trunk using the emergency trunk release, but Harris caught him attempting to escape and threatened to kill him again forcing him to close the trunk. After a little while Harris opened the trunk and he then let the victim go. The victim got into his car where he retrieved a firearm and shot at Harris who returned fire. Harris was shot in the leg in the exchange. The passenger window of the victim’s car received several bullets.
The victim flagged down the trooper while Harris and his father, Loren Richardson, drove by. The victim identified Harris as his robber, and the trooper tried to pull Richardson over. Richardson fled, leading the trooper on a chase to Pasco County.
Richardson did eventually pull over after Harris threw the gun out of the car. Harris fled into the woods on foot.
During questioning, Richardson claimed Harris, who was shot in the leg, demanded a ride to the hospital. He said Harris pushed down his leg to force him to keep driving while brandishing a gun. Richardson was arrested for fleeing the police.
Pasco deputies later found Harris and took him to the hospital for treatment for his gunshot wound. After being read his Miranda Rights, he gave inconsistent statements and then refused to cooperate with investigators.
Authorities have a warrant for Harris’ arrest on kidnapping and armed robbery charges. He’s currently in custody at the hospital, and they’ll transport him to jail once he’s released from the hospital.
