ORLANDO, Florida. – A man recklessly drove through downtown Orlando’s bustling nightlife over Halloween weekend, hitting several cars and forcing a police officer to fire his gun in an attempt to stop him, police said.

The suspect, identified as Cliff François, 30, faces numerous charges following this chaotic incident. According to court documents, Francois should have still been on probation for a 2014 armed robbery and is currently involved in a separate criminal case from July.

Downtown Orlando was crowded for Halloween events at the time of the incident, and police said they first approached Francois in a parking lot after noticing he was parked between two spaces. When the officers tried to speak to him, François fled and took Pine Street the wrong way.

François struck two police vehicles, including a police officer’s Ford Explorer which had been positioned to block the road and protect pedestrians. According to the arrest report, Francis also drove onto a sidewalk, forcing several people out of the way.

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Jose Torres, an employee at the nearby Corona Cigar Company, said the area was crowded with people dressed up for the Plaza Halloween event. “If you drive a car down that street while protesters or people are there, you’re taking lives, so I’m glad they kept that under control,” Torres said.

The chase ended when François crashed into a lamp post, abandoned his car and tried to flee on foot. A police officer fired his weapon during the chase but did not hit anyone. François was apprehended, handcuffed and taken to prison.

It was not the first time that François had fled the police. In July, he allegedly led police on a chase after being seen driving a car without a license plate and with its headlights off.

The officer who fired his weapon has been placed on paid administrative leave, as per standard protocol, while the Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigates the use of force.

François remains in custody while the investigation continues.

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