Suspects flee Lakeland police by jumping fence, running through backyard while children play
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LAKELAND, Fla. (WFLA) — A foot pursuit in Lakeland dramatically crashed a family’s weekend cookout.

It was supposed to be a quiet, calm Sunday afternoon.

“It was one of those days where we were trying to get all of the family together and knock out some household tasks as well,” David Little said.

Little and his family were spending time in the backyard of his in-laws home in the Crystal Lake Drive area of Lakeland.

They were grilling up some hot dogs and hamburgers while taking a break from removing items from the home while renovations were underway.

They heard sirens and commotion on the other side of the 6-foot fence.

“We saw two kids jump the fence,” Little said. “One fell just a couple feet away from my son. Then we saw the kids kind of like running towards the house towards the deck, and then we saw the police officer jump on the fence trying to chase them.”

Security videos showed the entire incident, from when the suspects were running down South Crystal Lake Drive to them jumping over the fence in the backyard.

The suspects landed close to where Little’s young nephews and 4-year-old son were playing.

“You don’t see it every day,” he said. “It was nerve-wracking. I think it would have been less scary had the kids not been around and our wives and mother-in-law.”

Little is seen on video grabbing a block of wood to try to stop the fence-hoppers.

“Then they ran around the corner and then hopped the back fence,” he said.

The pair was being sought for trying to break into vehicles.

According to Lakeland police, one suspect, a 15-year-old, was arrested on attempted burglary and resisting an officer charges.

The other suspect has not been identified.

Little said his family was shaken up but glad everyone was unharmed.

“To watch somebody leap over in like one or two steps, it was kind of impressive when you look back on it,” Little said.

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