An Ocklawaha man accused of fleeing from a Marion County sheriff’s deputy soon found himself behind bars.
The deputy noticed a vehicle parked at the opening of Forest Road 22 and “due to it being suspicious in nature,” attempted to perform a well-being check on the driver, who was later identified as 22-year-old Kasper Wade O’Berry. But O’Berry fled from the deputy at a high rate of speed and refused to stop, a sheriff’s office report states.
After a short pursuit, O’Berry crashed into a small tree and fled on foot. The sheriff’s office’s helicopter, Air-one, responded, as well as a K-9 team, which began a search of the area. The K-9 dog soon apprehended O’Berry while he was hiding in water, the report says.
O’Berry said he ran from the deputy because he knew he had warrants and no driver’s license. He was arrested and transported to the Marion County Jail, where he was charged with fleeing/eluding, driving without a valid license, two probation violations and failure to appear in court. His bond was revoked on the previous charges and he’s due in court Sept. 15 and Sept. 30, jail records show.