Girl, 5, Dies After Dad Throws Her Off Bridge

Child Thrown From Bridge In Florida

The five-year-old's father faces a murder charge after an officer says he saw him stop on a Florida bridge and toss the child.

A five-year-old girl has died after being thrown off a bridge in Florida, allegedly by her father.

John Jonchuk, 25, faces a first-degree murder charge over the death of his daughter, Phoebe Jonchuk.
The incident unfolded as a St Petersburg police officer in a patrol car pursued a vehicle that passed him at about 100mph (160km/h)  just after midnight, according to local media.

John Jonchuck's mugshot. Pic: St Petersburg Police

The driver of the Chrysler PT Cruiser stopped his vehicle by the Dick Misener Bridge, and the officer pulled up behind him.
The suspect got out of the car and said something inaudible to the officer before going to the passenger door and lifting out the girl in his arms.
Pressing her head towards his chest, he tossed her over the rail into the Tampa Bay water more than 60ft (18 metres) below.
While the officer climbed over the bridge to try to save the youngster, the suspect sped off in his car.

Police at the scene. Pic: Twitter/St Petersburg police

Phoebe was pulled out of the water by rescue crews, who tried to resuscitate her. But she died at hospital.
The suspect, meanwhile, allegedly almost hit a police officer who tried to make him stop on the other side of the bridge.
He was apprehended after police used spiked strips to disable his car.
"I've been doing this job for 29 years," said Police Chief Tony Holloway, reports the St Petersburg Times, "and I don't even know what was going through this guy's mind."
 Officials said Jonchuk also faces charges of aggravated assault with a motor vehicle on a law enforcement officer and aggravated fleeing and eluding police.
He has a history of domestic battery charges in Hillsborough County, Florida, according to local media.