Pursuit ends after PIT maneuver

A pursuit initiated in Walton County ended in Bonifay when a Holmes County Sheriff’s Office deputy performed a PIT maneuver to stop the vehicle.

 HCSO was notified on March 23 that a Walton County deputy had attempted to stop a vehicle on Highway 90 around Argyle. The driver refused to stop and continued east on Highway 90 toward Ponce de Leon.

An HCSO deputy intercepted the vehicle and attempted a traffic stop when the driver once again refused to stop, initiating a pursuit in Holmes County. As the pursuit continued eastward, the driver was running other vehicles off the road and throwing items out of the window, according to HCSO.

Just east of Caryville, HCSO deployed a set of spikes strips flattening the vehicle’s tires. The driver also struck a couple of innocent bystanders in the process. Despite having flat tires, the driver continued eastward on Highway 90 into Bonifay in the west bound lanes.

HCSO performed a PIT maneuver to prevent the driver from coming into town which forced the vehicle to turn onto Depot Street. The driver continued down Depot Street where at the intersection of Banfill Avenue HCSO performed the PIT maneuver again forcing the vehicle into a ditch effectively ending the pursuit.

The driver was removed from the vehicle and was reportedly resisting arrest but was eventually taken into custody.

The driver was identified as Chase Taylor of Defuniak Springs. Taylor is charged with aggravated fleeing and eluding, reckless driving, resisting arrest, DWLSR, possession of marijuana and introduction of contraband.