Suspect Accused of Attacking People, Crashing Cars in Rampage

A Bradenton man went on a rampage Tuesday night involving 11 victims, seriously injuring two bystanders who tried to help a victim and ramming a Jaguar on U.S. 41, according to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office.

Evens Rene, who had been fighting with his girlfriend when he began a series of attacks and a car chase, has been charged with several crimes, including carjacking, aggravated battery with a vehicle, aggravated battery with a weapon and taking a weapon from a deputy.

According to the Sheriff's report:

Rene was with his girlfriend at the Super 8 motel on 14th Street West when he got into a fight with her. After tearing up the motel room, Rene took off at about 10 p.m. and tried to get into a blue Jaguar with three people inside. 

The people in the Jaguar quickly pulled out of the parking lot and the suspect got into his girlfriend's Chevrolet Impala and chased the Jaguar North on U.S. 41. Rene smashed into the side of their vehicle and rammed the car in the rear, before his vehicle spun out in front of Perkins Restaurant on U.S. 41 and stalled.

Rene got out of his car and went to another vehicle occupied by Dawn Pierce,  Kevin Pierce and Cassandra Behar. He opened the door and pulled out Dawn Pierce, the driver, yelling profanities at her.

A bystander, Michale Barber, who saw what was happening tried to help Dawn Pierce. Rene, picked up a large piece of concrete and smashed him in the head.

He then attempted to carjack Barber's vehicle with Amber Barber still inside. James Braun saw what was happening and confronted Rene, who ran across the street. Braun chased him and Rene hit Braun in the head with a piece of concrete. 

Deputy Jason Farrier arrived and began chasing Rene, who turned and punched the deputy in the face. Deputy Travis Allison arrived and used his taser to try to stop and arrest Rene, who fell to the ground.

But the Taser worked only momentarily. Rene fought the deputies as they tried to handcuff him. At one point he grabbed the deputy's Taser and tried to use it but the weapon was off. Deputies were finally able to handcuff and search Rene who was carrying crack cocaine.

Rene was taken to Manatee Memorial Hospital to be checked out for intoxicants, according to Dave Bristow, a spokesman for the Sheriff's Office. None of his victims went to the hospital for treatment.