A Marion County sheriff’s deputy arrested a habitual traffic offender Sunday morning after he was caught speeding on SE Maricamp Road in Ocala.
The deputy stopped 32-year-old John Gary Baxter, of Ocala, after he recorded him on radar traveling 67 mph in a 50 mph zone. Baxter drove about three-quarters of a mile in his black Mazda 6 with the deputy behind him before finally stopping in the 10300 block of SE Maricamp Road, a sheriff’s office report states.
Baxter admitted to speeding and said the deputy “would be taking him to jail today,” as he was out on bond for driving on a suspended license. He also admitted that his license was currently suspended “but he wanted to go buy some cigarettes,” a sheriff’s office report states.
A check of Baxter’s driving record confirmed the suspension and listed him as a habitual traffic offender. His record showed a total of eight suspensions, with the latest being June 21, 2016; two cancellations for failure to complete a substance abuse program, with the latest being Dec. 8, 2014; and three revocations, with the latest being June 21, 2016, at which time he was listed as a habitual traffic violator for a period of 60 months.
Baxter was transported to the Marion County Jail and charged with driving with a suspended license (habitual offender). He was being held on $5,000 bond.
Baxter, who has been held in the Marion County Jail nine times since 2006, is due in a Marion County courtroom on Nov. 20 at 9 a.m. to answer to the charge.