The Marion County Sheriff’s Office arrested a 49-year-old Ocklawaha man after he allegedly led deputies on a high-speed chase and threatened to charge at them with a knife while under the influence of alcohol.
On Tuesday, August 29, deputies were looking for a man identified as Christopher Dean Trail in connection with a domestic disturbance. According to the MCSO report, Trail’s mother informed deputies that her son had been “drinking all day” and was “heavily intoxicated” due to his girlfriend recently passing away.
Deputies spotted Trail’s F-150 pickup truck in the 19000 block of E Highway 40, and he “took off at a high rate of speed” when he saw the patrol cars. A traffic stop was attempted in the 18300 block of E Highway 40, but Trail continued traveling westbound, according to the MCSO report.
A deputy used a pursuit intervention technique (PIT) maneuver to bring Trail’s vehicle to a stop on the shoulder of the road in the 17300 block of E Highway 40. The MCSO report stated that Trail rolled down his window and told deputies to “just shoot him already.”
A deputy managed to speak with Trail over the phone, and Trail admitted to drinking. He told the deputy that he would exit the vehicle after he “finished smoking,” though the MCSO report stated that Trail once again “took off at a high rate of speed” and began heading eastbound on Highway 40.
While still on the phone with the deputy, Trail turned onto National Forest Road 5 and headed southbound. He told the deputy, “I’m (expletive). I’m running from the cops drunk with no license.” The deputy was eventually able to convince Trail to pull over his vehicle in the 6400 block of National Forest Road 5, according to the MCSO report.
Trail refused to exit the vehicle and made statements that he wanted deputies to “kill him.” The MCSO report stated that Trail then threatened to charge the deputies with a knife. He then allegedly took the knife, cut his left forearm, and threatened several times to slit his throat.
After speaking with law enforcement for around 30 minutes, Trail eventually exited the vehicle and peacefully surrendered. Deputies detected a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from his breath, and he was unsteady on his feet. Inside Trail’s vehicle, deputies observed several beer cans, according to the MCSO report.
Trail was evaluated by paramedics and transported to a local hospital. While at the hospital, he apologized for putting the deputies in danger, and he made statements that he “deserves a DUI” and “ruined his life.” The MCSO report stated that he was unable to perform field sobriety exercises, and a computer search revealed that his driver’s license was suspended in June of 2023 for failure to complete substance abuse treatment.
After being medically cleared, Trail was arrested and transported to Marion County Jail where he is currently being held on $30,000 bond. He is facing a felony charge for fleeing to elude a law enforcement officer, along with misdemeanor charges for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and operating a motor vehicle without a valid license.
A court date has been scheduled at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, October 3, according to jail records.