NORTH PORT, Fla. (WWSB) - North Port Police set up a dragnet Tuesday in search of a theft suspect but came away nearly empty-handed, the police department said on social media.

During the search, a man police thought may have been the suspect was tasered and charged with obstruction; and a patrol vehicle was damaged in a collision at a nearby intersection. The suspect is still at large.

Police said units responded to the Preto/Playmore area when they received reports that a wanted suspect was seen there. The suspect is wanted for possession of a firearm by a juvenile delinquent (now an adult), two counts of aggravated assault, and is believed to be responsible for multiple vehicle thefts in the area.

As they searched the area, police said a man matching the suspect’s description was fou

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