Man led deputies on chase around hospital

PALM COAST, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - A 29 year-old man is in the Flagler County Jail after deputies say he tried to evade them using a stolen vehicle in a hospital parking lot.

On Friday night, deputies arrested Yuliy Ilchenko outside of the Palm Coast Hospital.

Flagler County Sheriff’s Office Chief Paul Bovino said they got a report of a stolen vehicle in Palm Coast earlier that day and deputies had been on the lookout since the afternoon. One of their corporals spotted a vehicle matching the description in the hospital parking lot that night.

"It's backed in which is another kind of tip that something might be amiss with this vehicle,” said Chief Bovino. “They run the number and realize it was the same vehicle that was stolen earlier in the day."

According to the deputy’s report, Ilchenko came out of the hospital a short time later and fled in the vehicle when cops tried to pull him over.

Deputies report that a brief chase ensued through the streets around the hospital, with the suspect showing ‘wanton disregard’ for the safety of people entering and exiting the emergency room and other areas of the hospital. According to the report, the vehicle finally hit a curb and the suspect took off on foot.

The corporal then tackled Ilchenko and deputies deployed their Tasers on him to take him into custody.

On body camera video of the incident, Ilchenko tells deputies he fled because he was scared and he claims the vehicle was rented to him by someone he doesn’t know.

Ilchenko was arrested for grand theft, evading police, and possession of a pill of Oxycodone, among other charges. Listed as a transient, Ilchenko remained in the Flagler County Jail as of Tuesday.