A Tennessee man who fled from a variety of law enforcement officers and had to be forcibly stopped from entering Interstate 75 the wrong way is behind bars in the Marion County Jail.
A Sumter County sheriff’s deputy in an unmarked cruiser was following a stolen four-door beige Toyota when he called the Marion County Sheriff’s Office for help early Tuesday morning. A short time later the vehicle, driven by 28-year-old James William Daugherty, of Petros, Tenn., exited I-75 at SW Hwy. 484 and pulled into the Pilot Travel Center.
Both deputies and a Florida Highway Patrol trooper pulled in behind Daugherty and tried to make contact with him. But he sped back onto SW Hwy. 484 and drove north on I-75 with the deputies and the trooper in pursuit. Daugherty eventually exited the interstate at Mile Marker 350 and briefly headed westbound on SW Hwy. 200 before turning north and heading up the southbound exit ramp on I-75, the report says.
Because of the inherent danger to oncoming motorists, the Marion County sheriff’s deputy performed an aggressive maneuver to bring Daugherty’s vehicle to a stop. He then exited the Toyota with his hands in the air and was taken into custody.
After being read his rights, Daugherty admitted to driving the stolen vehicle. He said his license was suspended in Tennessee, which was confirmed a short time later. A computer check also showed that he had an outstanding warrant out of St. Johns County for failure to appear in court on a charge of driving without a license.
Daugherty was transported to the Marion County Jail and charged with grand theft of a motor vehicle, fleeing/eluding a law enforcement officer with lights and siren active and knowingly driving while license suspended. He was being held on no bond and is due in court Feb. 25 at 9 a.m. to answer to the charge.