A 22-year-old Ocala man was arrested after leading a deputy on a high-speed chase earlier this week.
On Thursday, a deputy with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office spotted a blue vehicle driven by Cody Chance Guthrie that was allegedly traveling well over the posted 45 MPH speed limit.
According to the MCSO report, the deputy observed Guthrie’s vehicle around the 4000 block of NE 58th Avenue in Silver Springs and estimated that the vehicle’s speed was over 100 MPH.
The deputy pursued the vehicle northbound at a high rate of speed with the emergency lights and siren both activated.
The report states that Guthrie made an abrupt U-turn around the 7500 block of NE 58th Avenue and headed southbound on NE 58th Avenue.
Another deputy deployed stopsticks at the intersection of US Highway 326 and NE 58th Avenue. Guthrie’s vehicle hit the stopsticks and turned right, heading west on US Highway 326.
Guthrie lost control of the vehicle due to the damaged tires and crashed through a fence at the 5400 block of US Highway 326.
Guthrie allegedly got out of his vehicle and ran south on foot through the woods. Utilizing a K-9 deputy along with air support, Guthrie was located and placed under arrest.
During a search of Guthrie’s vehicle, an MCSO deputy located a white crystal-like substance, a straw, and a glass pipe that all field tested positive for methamphetamine, according to the report.
When questioned, Guthrie said he sped away from the deputy because he was scared and wanted to stay out of jail for his child. He claims that he ‘blacked out’ during the pursuit.
Guthrie was transported to Marion County Jail where he is facing several felony charges, including eluding a law enforcement officer and possession of a controlled substance, along with numerous misdemeanors. He is being held on $13,500 bond. No court date has been scheduled yet, according to jail records.