WEST PALM BEACH, FL– Officials are saying that a man driving a stolen vehicle reportedly ditched the vehicle on railroad tracks in an effort to outrun the police.
The incident occurred Thursday near Silver Beach Road and Congress Avenue.
The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office reported they noticed the stolen vehicle pull into the Royal Palm Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens on Greenwood Avenue.
Deputies began to follow it as the driver pulled out of the cemetery and continued down Old Dixie Highway. The driver reportedly stopped the vehicle, but when authorities pulled up to conduct a traffic stop, the driver reversed and a passenger jumped out of the car and took off running.
The driver then fled the scene with the vehicle.
As authorities pursued him, the driver drove through a nearby field and then stopped the vehicle on a pair of train tracks.
The driver then fled on foot.
Authorities sent a K-9 officer after the suspect and were able to bring him into custody.
The suspect, identified as 42-year-old Antonio Lanoy Smith, was taken to St. Mary’s Medical Center to be evaluated for an injury from the K9 before being transported to jail.
He is facing grand theft of a motor vehicle, fleeing and eluding police, and interference with railroad/track equipment.
Authorities say he stole the vehicle from a person who overdosed and was brought unconscious to a hospital.
Officials say because the victim was unconscious, they could not have given consent for anyone to drive their vehicle.