Polk chase ends in east Hillsborough County

[Polk County Sheriff's deputy Russ Hilson and his partner Moose corner the final suspect after a chase that started in Polk County. Skip O'Rourke | Times]

SEFFNER -- A chase that started in Polk County ended with a crash on Interstate 4 near the Lazy Days RV Park, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office.

It all started at 10:46 a.m. this morning, when someone saw two men taking a television out of a home in Lakeland, deputies say. A detective at the scene spotted the suspect's vehicle, a brown pickup reported stolen this morning from Riverview. The detective tried to stop the pickup, which headed west on I-4.

The Polk Sheriff's Office used a helicopter to track the pickup and helped direct patrol cars on the ground.

The truck side-swiped a tractor trailer, but neither vehicle crashed, deputies say. The tractor trailer had only minor damage, and the truck's driver was taken to a local hospital as a precaution.

The truck -- and the five burglary suspects inside -- headed into Hillsborough County. Near exit 10 at the Lazy Days RV Park, the truck crashed while trying to exit I-4, deputies say. The five suspects fled on foot. All were apprehended, deputies say. One of those suspects was tackled by a citizen. 

The Hillsborough Sheriff's Office is involved in the incident, but a spokeswoman referred all questions to the Polk Sheriff's Office.

-- Abbie VanSickle, Times staff writer