Police briefs

Man driving 119 mph is arrested after crash

EAST MANATEE -- A man driving at a steady rate of 119 mph on State Road 70 in far East Manatee County Thursday evening tried to evade deputies and crashed into another car during a 2-mile pursuit, the Manatee County Sheriff's Office said.

Robert M. Shollar, 24, of the 22500 block of Morning Glory Circle, said he figured that since deputies had already clocked his high rate of speed in the 16000 block of S.R. 70 near the Panther Ridge subdivision that he would drive faster to escape, according to a report.

"After I hit a car was when I decided to stop because ... I knew I was caught," Shollar told deputies.

Shollar finally stopped in the 22000 block of S.R. 70, where he was arrested on charges of reckless driving and leaving the scene of a crash, according to a report.

Shollar passed two vehicles on the two-lane road while fleeing eastbound and struck one car from behind, according to a report. When that vehicle pulled over, another vehicle struck a patrol car. There were no injuries.

Shollar stopped about a half-mile from the crash, according to a report.

Authorities seek man who robbed a bank

SARASOTA COUNTY -- Deputies are looking for a man behind a bank robbery Friday afternoon on Bee Ridge Road.

The man was seen walking into the Trustco Bank branch in the 2700 block of Bee Ridge Road about noon.

He demanded cash and walked out. No one was injured.

Authorities released surveillance photos of the man.

He is about 5 feet, 10 inches tall, between the ages of 35 and 45, and weighs about 160 pounds.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Criminal Investigations Bureau at 861-4900.

Man dies of injuries after police chase

PARRISH -- A man who led authorities on a high-speed chase Tuesday night and lost control of his vehicle died from injuries sustained in the crash, the Manatee County Sheriff's Office said.

Rickey E. Soria, 28, of Bradenton, drove into a wooded area off of U.S. 301 North in a chase with deputies that reached speeds up to 100 mph, according to a report.

Soria had to be cut out of a sport-utility vehicle and flown to Bayfront Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

Authorities said the SUV Soria was driving matched the description of a stolen vehicle. When they attempted a traffic stop around 9 p.m., Soria sped off.

In the 12000 block of U.S. 301 North, Soria lost control and slammed into several trees.

The Sheriff's Office will review the pursuit.