COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. — A convicted felon is back behind bars after he allegedly robbed a convenience store and then hit a deputy while trying to get away.
Detectives with the Collier County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release that Backslay Leonard went into a Circle K store shortly after 4 a.m. Thursday. Deputies said that Leonard waited until all the customers had left before going into the store, telling the clerk he was armed and demanding the clerk’s car keys and money from the register.
Leonard allegedly took the clerk’s vehicle and an undisclosed amount of money and drove away, WINK reported.
Deputies found Leonard making a U-turn nearby, and said he ignored their attempts to pull him over. Instead, Leonard began to throw money out of his window, WFTX reported.
A deputy managed to stop the car by maneuvering his cruiser against the stolen car, the sheriff’s office said in its news release. While deputies were trying to arrest Leonard, he allegedly backed into the patrol car before accelerating and hitting a deputy who was walking toward him. The deputy sustained injuries to his head, neck and arm, the sheriff’s office said.
The sheriff’s office told WINK that it took three deputies to remove Leonard from the stolen vehicle. When he exited of the car, Leonard had knife wounds to his abdomen, and deputies found a large knife inside the car.
Leonard was treated and released at a hospital before being taken to the Collier County Jail.
Deputies said in the news release that Leonard is a convicted felon, and had previously been arrested for robbery and grand theft auto.
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