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Carjacking suspect out of hospital after crash with Fort Pierce police cruiser

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UPDATE--A man suspected in a weekend carjacking, and who was injured after crashing into a Fort Pierce police cruiser, has been released from a hospital.

Police say they booked 28-year-old Michael John Ginger into the St. Lucie County Jail.

He faces burglary-with assault or battery, kidnap-commit or facilitate commission of felony, resist officer-obstruct without violence, flee/elude police-fail to obey law enforcement officer order to stop, and two charges of obstruct police-deprive of means protection or communication.

Investigators say two of the charges stem from an attack on an officer while at the hospital. That officer received minor injuries, police said.

EARLIER:

FORT PIERCE – One person is in custody after carjacking a vehicle and fleeing from police in Fort Pierce on Saturday.

Officers responded to the 2500 block of South U.S. Highway 1 at approximately 11:26 a.m. in reference to a theft.

When officers encountered the suspect, later identified as 28-year-old Michael John Ginger of Stuart, he fled on foot, then quickly carjacked an occupied vehicle and pointed a gun at an officer.

One of the responding officers discharged his weapon in an effort to stop the suspect, but his shot did not strike anyone.

According to police, Ginger drove the vehicle south on U.S. Highway 1 where it spun out of control and collided with a police cruiser on the 3200 block.

The victim of the carjacking, who was not in the vehicle at the time of the crash, was transported to Lawnwood Regional Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries. She was treated and released.

Ginger was also transported to the hospital. He is in critical condition.

No officers were injured.

Michael John Ginger is in custody and charges are pending.

The incident remains under investigation.