A St. Johns County Sheriff's Office deputy used a PIT maneuver to stop a Palm Coast man accused of firing approximately seven gunshots from a handgun while driving 30 mph on Interstate 95, according to an arrest report detailed by News4Jax.
The 34-year-old man was arrested Wednesday, Aug. 12, near mile marker 323 in northern St. Johns County and booked into the St. Johns County Jail just before 6 a.m.
Witnesses Reported Erratic Driving and Gunfire
Witnesses reported seeing the man's black 2016 Ford Escape swerving recklessly northbound on I-95 and hearing gunfire coming from the vehicle, the arrest report states. A responding deputy located the SUV traveling at roughly 30 mph, weaving between the far-left and middle lanes.
Driver Ignored Lights and Sirens Before Being Stopped
The deputy activated emergency lights and sirens. The driver initially changed lanes, appearing to acknowledge the traffic stop, then moved back into the left lane and kept rolling. The deputy executed a PIT maneuver to bring the vehicle to a halt.
He did not comply.
Once stopped, the man tensed his body, turned away from deputies and repeatedly refused commands while being handcuffed and placed in a patrol car.
Deputies found a loaded black Ruger Max-9 9 mm semi-automatic handgun on the driver's side floorboard with one round in the chamber and five rounds remaining in its 10-round magazine. A spent 9 mm shell casing sat on the floorboard beside it. The man was wearing a black EcoMaxx concealed carry holster on his belt that matched the weapon.
A red plastic straw containing white residue was recovered from his pocket and field-tested presumptively positive for cocaine, according to the arrest report. The arresting deputy reported smelling alcohol on the man's breath and noted slurred speech, difficulty maintaining balance and trouble keeping his eyes open. The report states the suspect made several spontaneous statements about being "high."
Man Refused Testing at Hospital
At a hospital where the man was taken for medical clearance, he refused a urine sample to test for alcohol or controlled substances. Deputies read him the implied consent warning, and he continued to refuse.
The man faces six charges: felony fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement with lights and sirens active, felony cocaine possession, misdemeanor DUI, misdemeanor refusal to submit to DUI testing, misdemeanor obstruction without violence and misdemeanor possession of drug equipment.
No firearms charge was listed in the arrest report. The St. Johns Citizen also noted the omission without explanation.
The St. Johns County Sheriff's Office has not released a public statement about the incident. Residents with information can contact SJSO at 888-471-9138.
