A 37-year-old Belleview man was arrested after he fled from a Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputy who had attempted to conduct a traffic stop on S U.S. Highway 441.
On Wednesday, the MCSO deputy was in the area of Sunset Harbor Road and S U.S. Highway 441 in Summerfield when a red two-door sedan was observed driving westbound on Sunset Harbor Road at approximately 100 miles per hour in a posted 45-mph zone. The driver was later identified as Jason Elliott Brown, according to the arrest report.
The deputy noted in the report that Brown’s vehicle proceeded to pass another motorist while crossing the double yellow line, and he then continued heading westbound to S U.S. Highway 441. After activating the patrol car’s emergency lights and siren, the deputy attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but a pursuit was initiated when Brown refused to slow down.
The MCSO report stated that Brown’s vehicle made multiple dangerous maneuvers during the pursuit, which displayed a “blatant disregard for the safety of others in the area.” The deputy noted that Brown made a rapid U-turn, drove in circles around the deputy’s patrol car, and drove onto a field in an attempt to evade the deputy.
The pursuit came to an end when the deputy successfully performed a pursuit intervention technique (PIT) maneuver against Brown’s vehicle near the 13900 block of S Highway 301. Brown was detained in handcuffs.
After being read his Miranda rights, Brown admitted that he fled from the traffic stop because he believed that the deputy had been “sent to find him” regarding an alleged false accusation that had been made against him. When Brown saw the deputy’s patrol car, he stated that he “got spooked” and fled, according to the MCSO report.
While speaking with the deputy, Brown advised that he made a mistake and he apologized to the sheriff’s office for “putting y’all through that.”
Brown was arrested and transported to Marion County Jail where he is currently being held on $1,000 bond. He is facing a felony charge for fleeing and eluding a law enforcement officer with disregard of safety to persons or property.
A court date has been scheduled at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, May 2, according to jail records.