15-year-old accused of running over Orange County deputy turns self in

ORLANDO, Fla. – A 15-year-old accused of running over an Orange County sheriff's deputy has turned himself in to authorities, according to officials.

The Orange County Sheriff's Office said Jancarlos Ortiz called authorities Monday afternoon from his mother’s home on High Street and turned himself in. Ortiz refused to talk to investigators and asked for an attorney, sheriff's officials said.

Ortiz was taken to the Juvenile Assessment Center.

Orange County Sheriff's Sgt. Mary Pearce had serious injuries to her head, back, hand and foot, but they weren't life-threatening, Sheriff Jerry Demings said. She was released from the hospital Friday afternoon.

Authorities from the sheriff's office and other law enforcement agencies were searching for the teen.

The teen ran over Pearce as she approached a vehicle he was in, authorities said.

"He deliberately ran over her as she was approaching the vehicle," Demings said. "She ended up on the hood of the car, and he began to accelerate at a high rate of speed. At some point, she was thrown off the vehicle."

Ortiz faces an attempted murder on a law enforcement officer charge, the sheriff said. 

Records released by the Orange County Sheriff's Office show the teen had previous arrests last year for aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer with a motor vehicle, armed burglary, burglary, grand theft, and fleeing and eluding law enforcement.

"He has a violent history with his interaction with law enforcement," Demings said.

Pearce has been with the agency for more than two decades. Her husband also works for the sheriff's office.