High speed pursue completes with suspect’s arrest on I-10
Police pursue in Leon County
Viewer Movie: Tallahassee Police Pursue
By: WCTV Eyewitness News
February Eighteen, 2017
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) — The driver in Friday’s I-10 car pursue made his very first appearance in court today.
43-year-old Eric Travis has been booked in the Leon County Jail for numerous charges including two counts of aggravated attack with a deadly weapon, attack on an officer, fleeing police with disregard of safety and numerous other charges.
He’s being held with $15,000.
February 16, 2017
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) — Drama unfolded Friday on Thomasville Road, with a high speed pursue spanning two counties and more than twelve miles.
People on Thomasville Road whipping out their phones to record movie as a car pursue began with a Toyota followed by Tallahassee Police.
Viewers who sent in movies to WCTV can be heard in the movie telling, “This stud is on the run, this fellow is on the run!”
Another viewer who sent in a movie from the pursue, “Is this stud for real?”
Leon County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Grady Jordan said, “The driver of the vehicle attempted to run a police officer off the road or attempted to ram him.”
Police followed the vehicle through Tallahassee.
“That pursuit ended up on the interstate,” said Lt. Jordan.
The suspect got onto I-10, driving on the wrong side of the road.
As the suspect drove at high speeds, deputies attempted to keep people safe ahead.
“Pulling people off the road, attempting to keep them safe from the suspect vehicle, which he did not stop and continued to go,” said Lt. Jordan.
The driver made his way to the Leon County/Jefferson County line where he made a U-turn, crashing into a vehicle, then heading back west.
“Tallahassee Police then performed a PIT maneuver, which disabled his vehicle and went to take him into custody,” said Lt. Jordan.
LCSO says the man attempted to run, but was tased and sent to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital.
Law enforcement say this was a nerve wracking pursuit.
“The force in that vehicle traveling at those speeds, you’re standing still or anything coming at you it can release a lot of force and injure a lot of people,” said Lt. Jordan.
But thanks to law enforcement and quick thinking drivers, no one was hurt.
The interstate westbound was shut down for most of the afternoon, but is now open.
Tallahassee Police and the Leon County Sheriff’s Office are continuing to investigate.
The suspect has not been named.
By: WCTV Eyewitness News
February 16, 2017
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) — A suspect has been arrested in east Leon County after a high speed pursue spanned several miles Friday, the Leon County Sheriff’s Office says.
The pursue began on Friday afternoon after police spotted a vehicle driving erratically on Thomasville Road.
Officers with the Tallahassee Police Department attempted to pull the vehicle over but the driver refused to stop. Police say the driver continued driving in circles on Thomasville Road and attempted to ram a marked TPD vehicle.
Several WCTV viewers sent in movie of the suspect fleeing from police on Thomasville Road.
Extra units from both TPD and LCSO, including the LCSO Aviation Unit, responded to the area to assist.
The suspect then led authorities on a pursuit heading eastbound in the westbound lanes of Interstate Ten. Drivers on I-10 reported swerving out of the way of the suspect’s vehicle as they were passed during the pursuit.
The pursue eventually ended near mile marker two hundred sixteen westbound on I-10 near the Leon County – Jefferson County line. Authorities say the suspect attempted to do a U-turn and struck a citizen’s vehicle, then began driving back westbound towards Tallahassee.
Officers then performed a PIT maneuver on the suspect’s vehicle, bringing the high-speed pursue to an end.
The suspect hopped out of the vehicle and led authorities on a brief foot pursue before being tased. The suspect was taken into custody and transported to Tallahassee Memorial.
Officials say the investigation is continuing and they have not yet released the suspect’s identity.
No word on the total number of vehicles involved or any possible injuries.
The westbound lanes of I-10 were shut down inbetween mile marker two hundred thirteen and two hundred sixteen for several hours as crews investigated the scene, but have since reopened.