JACKSONVILLE, Fla -- Two police officers and an 84-year-old woman were recovering from injuries after a man trying to avoid being taken into custody struck them with a car.
Police said Theodore Valentino Thomas II fought off two officers as they tried to handcuff him about 7:20 p.m. Monday after receiving a complaint that he was out of control.
The officers were called by Thomas' fiancée, who said Thomas had stopped taking his medication and needed a mental-health evaluation under the provisions of the Baker Act.
Thomas' mother joined Officers Glen Karst and James Padilla as they tried to grab him, but Thomas managed to jump into his mother's car in the driveway of the home on Gilchrest Court and started backing up toward the officers.
One of the officers tried to push the mother out of the way of the car, all three were injured.
Thomas fled the scene, but returned later and tried to hit one of the officers again.
After Thomas was in custody, he apologized, telling police he wasn't trying to hurt anyone, just to get away.
"He also admitted that when he doesn't take his medication, he gets out of control," JSO spokesman Ken Jefferson said.
Both officers and the mother were admitted to Shands-Jacksonville Medical Center. Karst suffered a fractured vertebrae in his neck. The other officer suffered cuts to his leg and was expected to be released on Tuesday.
Thomas' mother was also admitted to the hospital, but police said her injuries were minor.
Thomas, 45, was booked into the Duval County jail on charges of aggravated battery on a law endowment officer and aggravated domestic battery.