A Marion County sheriff’s deputy used a Pursuit Intervention Technique (PIT) maneuver to end a high-speed traffic chase through Ocala early Thursday morning, but not before the fugitive’s car clipped a power pole and almost hit two other cars, including a deputy’s vehicle.
Deputies were on the lookout for Michael Samuel Johnson, 46, of 616 N. 10th Place in Ocala, after an electronic monitoring device indicated he violated the conditions of a pre-trial release agreement relating to his Feb. 17 charge of aggravated battery against a pregnant victim. Johnson was not to go within a mile of the victim’s two residences, but he was tracked entering the prohibited areas twice, a sheriff’s office report states.
A deputy observed a silver, four-door Volvo that matched the description a vehicle Johnson was driving in previous encounters with law enforcement and tried to conduct a traffic stop on SW 10th Street. Johnson sped through the intersection of SW 27th Avenue and turned onto SW 13th Street at a high speed. He then lost control of and struck a concrete power pole on the northwest corner of SW 13th Street and SW 33rd Avenue, but he continued to move, the report says.
Johnson was clocked at 75 mph in a 30 mph zone as he led the deputy east on SW 13th Street before turning north onto SW 37th Avenue. He then traveled east on SW 7th Street and ran a stop sign at the intersection of SW 7th Street and SW 33rd Avenue, almost striking a vehicle. Johnson continued north on SW 33rd Avenue and approached the intersection of W Hwy. 40, where he almost ran head-on into another deputy’s vehicle, the report says.
Johnson then turned west onto W Hwy. 40, where a deputy conducted a PIT maneuver to disable him on the median in the 3400 block. Johnson was arrested as he exited the vehicle and taken to the Marion County Jail.
Johnson was charged with violating his bond conditions, leaving the scene of an accident with property damage, reckless driving with willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property, and fleeing police with disregard of safety to persons or property.
Bond was set at $3,000 for the three charges related to the police chase, but Johnson remains held without bond for violating the conditions of his bond. His next appearance in Lake County Court is scheduled for March 18.