An Orange County Sergeant, who was hit by a car Friday morning in east Orange County, is now out of the hospital.

Sergeant Marcy Pearce, a 22-year veteran of the force, was treated for head, back, hand and foot injuries. Deputies said a teen “deliberately” tried to run Pearce over, as she moved in to arrest him.

The incident happened at about 7:35 a.m. near 853 High St. in Orlando. The suspect, identified as 15-year-old JanCarlos Ortiz, had active custody orders when Sgt. Marcy Pearce confronted him. (Per our Crime Guidelines News 13 typically doesn't identify juveniles, but we are releasing the teenager's name because deputies believe he could be a threat to the public.) According to deputies, Ortiz hit the gas, speeding into Pearce with his car, then took off. A juvenile probation officer, who was riding in the car with Pearce, dialed for help. The woman was not injured.

Sgt. Pearce was taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center with what officials believe to be non-life-threatening injuries.

Ortiz is still on the run, believed to be in a white Honda hatchback with black rims, according to deputies. The teen also has a lengthy rap sheet: In October 2015, he was charged with aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, fleeing to elude, armed burglary, two counts of grand theft and trespassing a conveyance.

"This was a bold action that this young man took today," Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings said today. "That's the sad part ... 15 years old and already in trouble with the law, and, again today, taking the action that he took. We want to certainly hold him accountable for his actions even though he's a juvenile."

Sheriff Demings continued that while deputies do not believe that Ortiz is armed, they do consider the teen---now wanted on an attempted murder charge---dangerous.

"Whenever you take the initiative to deliberately run down a law-enforcement officer whose in uniform, you are of the mindset that you can certainly be dangerous to others,” he said.

Anyone with information about Ortiz's whereabouts is asked to call Crimeline at 800-423-TIPS (8477).


(Tony Rojek, Staff)