A Plant City man was arrested early Monday after leading Marion County sheriff’s deputies on a low-speed chase in a stolen car in Ocala.
Michael Edward Taylor, 50, was charged with grand theft of a motor vehicle, fleeing law enforcement with lights and siren active, and driving with a suspended license (third or subsequent offense).
A pair of deputies were on routine patrol shortly after midnight when they observed a white Hyundai traveling in the 9600 block of County Road 464. A computer check revealed the vehicle was stolen, according to the sheriff’s office report.
Deputies followed the vehicle onto Oak Road and tried to pull it over at the intersection of Oak Road and Oak Court Pass. The vehicle ignored the lights and sirens and turned right, continuing onto Oak Court Pass at approximately 20 mph, the report said.
The vehicle then turned right onto Oak Court, slowed to approximately 5 mph and appeared like it was going to stop, but it returned to the roadway and continued traveling. The vehicle turned left onto Oak Road and then right onto Sapphire Way, according to the report.
After passing approximately 15 houses on Sapphire, the vehicle came to a stop and a man – later identified as Taylor – got out through the driver’s door. The passenger, known only as “Jamie Brown,” then took control of the vehicle and accelerated away, the report said.
In an interview with deputies, Taylor admitted to having a suspended license for failure to pay child support. A computer search showed four separate convictions for driving with a suspended license, the most recent in September in Hillsborough County, according to the report.
When asked why he didn’t stop after seeing the patrol car’s lights and hearing the siren, Taylor said he was looking for a good place to pull off the road. He denied stealing the vehicle or having knowledge of it being stolen. Taylor said he borrowed it from his friend, Vanessa, who lives in Clearwater, the report said.
Taylor was taken to the Marion County Jail, where he’s being held on $25,000 bond. He’s scheduled to appear in Marion County Court on Jan. 7.