Car chase ends in Lakewood Ranch

An East County man was taken into custody following a car chase that began in West Bradenton and ended in Lakewood Ranch Wednesday.

According to Manatee County Sheriff’s Office reports, Randy Lawson, 27, was driving a white-over-burgundy Cadillac with extensive front end and roof damages at about 1:10 p.m., May 27. Detectives believed the vehicle was involved in an earlier hit-and-run incident and followed Lawson as he fled eastbound on State Road 70.

Lawson turned south onto Lakewood Ranch Boulevard when his vehicle began to smoke and lose power, the report said. Eventually, Lawson turned onto Clubhouse Drive, slowed the vehicle to about 20 mph and bailed out of the vehicle.

Lawson fled into the woods along the roadway, and deputies dispatched a K-9 united. The dog located and took down Lawson, and he was transported to Lakewood Ranch Medical Center for treatments for his injuries.