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Friday, March 29, 2024

Man driving stolen vehicle arrested after leading police, deputies on lengthy chase

A 35-year-old Belleview man driving a stolen vehicle was arrested after he led multiple police officers and deputies on a lengthy chase.

On Thursday, August 11, at approximately 8:30 a.m., an Ocala Police Department officer responded to a residence in northeast Ocala in reference to a stolen vehicle. Upon arrival, the victim told the officer that their blue Mazda car had been left unlocked with the keys inside while the victim visited a friend.

While the victim was inside the friend’s residence, the victim’s car was stolen. The victim told the officer that a man, later identified as Dale Rollie Shrewsbury, was seen getting into the vehicle and driving away.

Dale Rollie Shrewsbury
Dale Rollie Shrewsbury

Shortly after the vehicle was stolen, at approximately 9:20 a.m., another OPD officer and a trainee located the stolen vehicle near the 4900 block of E Silver Springs Boulevard. The officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but the vehicle refused to pull over.

The officers pursued the vehicle as it fled, and additional officers quickly joined the pursuit. According to OPD, the pursuit took place on numerous roadways in the city and county, including State Road 40, Baseline Road, SE Maricamp Road, SE 44th Avenue Road, SE 41st Court, and U.S. 441.

OPD requested support from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, and several deputies responded to the area and joined the pursuit. An OPD detective also headed to the area to potentially deploy a tire-deflation device on the stolen vehicle.

According to OPD, Shrewsbury was driving recklessly to escape capture, and he was observed running several cars off the road. During the pursuit, he also struck a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission patrol vehicle.

When Shrewsbury neared the intersection of SE 73rd Street and SE 36th Avenue, he continued down a dirt road into a wooded area. The OPD officers were unable to pursue the vehicle any further due to the dirt pathway being too narrow for the patrol vehicles.

Man driving stolen vehicle arrested after leading police deputies on 21 minute chase 2
The stolen vehicle driving down a dirt road during the pursuit (Photo courtesy of the Ocala Police Department)

The officers attempted to follow on foot to get a visual on the stolen vehicle, but the officers lost sight of it. Within a matter of seconds after the officers lost sight of the car, an MCSO deputy spotted the vehicle and continued the pursuit. An OPD detective also observed the vehicle and provided backup to the deputy.

Shrewsbury continued to flee from law enforcement, he was observed driving through residential yards and striking several fences, according to OPD. When he neared the 5300 block of SE 41st Court, the deputy successfully conducted a Precision Immobilization Technique (PIT) maneuver on the vehicle, and Shrewsbury fled from the car.

Man driving stolen vehicle arrested after leading police deputies on 21 minute chase 1
The stolen vehicle driving through a fence (Photo courtesy of the Ocala Police Department)

The deputy quickly apprehended Shrewsbury with assistance from a K-9 partner, and the 21-minute pursuit was over. Shrewsbury received medical treatment for injuries sustained from the K-9 apprehension.

Shrewsbury was arrested and transported to Marion County Jail where he is currently being held on $39,000 bond. He is facing felony charges for automobile theft, aggravated fleeing and eluding, and fleeing and eluding a law enforcement officer with disregard of safety to persons or property.

In addition, Shrewsbury is facing misdemeanor charges for leaving the scene of a crash involving property damage (five counts), resisting an officer, and driving with a suspended license (fourth offense).

An initial court date has been scheduled on Wednesday, September 7 at 9 a.m., and a second court date has been scheduled on Tuesday, September 13 at 9 a.m., according to jail records.