A man is facing numerous charges after he crashed a police cruiser into an East Tampa home. He is also accused of battery on a police officer, and leaving the scene of an accident with injuries.

On August 31st, Tampa Police reported that at 2:30 p. m., an officer was on patrol in the area of the East Gate Motel on East Hillsborough Avenue when he saw Lorenzo Little, 48, in a verbal confrontation with a woman.

As the officer got out of his car to intervene, Little allegedly looked back and started shoving something into his mouth. The officer grabbed Little and the two struggled. During the struggle, the officer lost his balance and fell. Little escaped from the officer and got into the police cruiser and drove away.

While fleeing, Little tried to get around traffic and struck a vehicle. He then lost control of the police cruiser, crashing into a parked vehicle and a house in the 1400 block of Frierson, police said.

As Little fled, officers reported seeing him running from the police cruise. He reportedly broke into an unsuspecting resident’s home, and after he left through the rear door, officers spotted him.

Officers later lost sight of Little and established a perimeter in the area. As Little hid in an unknown location, a K-9 unit was called in. After the K-9 unit picked up Little’s track, he was ordered to surrender. Little reportedly refused.  He was treated for dog bites at a local hospital and then arrested on numerous charges.

Little was charged with battery on a law enforcement officer, 2 counts of burglary, grand theft auto, resisting arrest, aggravated fleeing to elude, hit and run with injuries, reckless driving, trafficking in drugs, driving with a suspended license, and manufacturing synthetic narcotics and battery.

Bill Tyler, a disabled Vietnam Veteran, is the owner of the truck struck on Frierson, and said the incident has left him without any transportation.

“I’ll be 67 on September 9th, and this is not what I was expecting leading up to my birthday. “My car was in my yard when this happened, and now I don’t know what I’m going to do.”

Tyler said his brother was outside when the incident occurred, and injured his knee trying to get out of the way. “One of his knees is swollen pretty bad. He was getting ready to take me to the drug store to pick up my medication.

“My entire life has been put on hold, and I’m in desperate need of help getting around to the doctor’s office and other places.”

Tyler is the father of 5 children, and served in Vietnam from 1968 through 1969.