A 51-year-old Summerfield man with a suspended driver’s license was arrested after fleeing a Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputy in Belleview.
On Wednesday, January 26, an MCSO deputy was conducting a routine patrol near the 7500 block of SE 92nd Loop in Belleview when a 2009 Nissan Altima was observed traveling east on the road.
According to the MCSO report, the vehicle failed to stay within the designated lanes and completed an improper lane change.
At the 8000 block of SE 92nd Loop, the deputy activated the patrol car’s emergency lights and attempted to conduct a traffic stop.
The vehicle refused to stop, and the deputy activated the patrol car’s sirens. The vehicle continued on SE 92nd Loop and then turned east onto SE 126th Place.
As the vehicle approached SE 83rd Terrace, the deputy observed something being tossed out of the vehicle’s window. The vehicle then proceeded to turn north onto SE 83rd Terrace before it finally came to a stop.
The driver, Brian Keith Crain, was detained.
The deputy returned to the 8300 block of SE 126th Place which was the location where the item had been tossed out of Crain’s vehicle. A bag containing a white crystal-like substance was located along the road, and the substance later field-tested positive for methamphetamine.
A female passenger in Crain’s vehicle told the deputy that Crain had stated “he was going back to jail.” During the pursuit, she claimed that she repeatedly told him to pull over.
She stated that Crain threw the bag out of the window. As the vehicle turned onto SE 83rd Terrace, she was able to convince Crain to pull the vehicle over.
A second passenger who was in the vehicle gave a similar statement to the deputy.
The deputy interviewed Crain, and he stated that he did not immediately pull over because “he was scared.” He was also aware that his driver’s license was not valid and that he had an active warrant for driving with a suspended license.
Crain admitted to throwing the bag out of the window. He told the deputy that he had been using methamphetamine for approximately one year and he informed the deputy that a pipe was also inside the vehicle.
Due to Crain’s cooperation, the deputy did not charge him with evidence tampering.
During a search of the vehicle, a scale was located near the driver’s seat, and the pipe that Crain described was located underneath the driver’s seat.
Crain was arrested, transported to Marion County Jail, and he was later released on $10,500 bond. He is facing felony charges for possession of a controlled substance and fleeing and eluding a law enforcement officer with lights and siren active, along with misdemeanor charges for possession of drug paraphernalia and driving with a suspended license.
A court date has been scheduled on Tuesday, March 1 at 9 a.m., according to jail records.