NEW PORT RICHEY, FL - May 27, 2020 - According to an online news report published on ChronicleOnline.com, a 31-year-old man from New Port Richey, Florida, led law enforcement on a high-speed police chase through a neighborhood. The report states that the New Port Richey man drove to an ex-girlfriend's home, and the man was arrested on drug dealing criminal charges.
According to the Citrus County Sheriff's Office, the suspect was arrested, booked, and jailed on several criminal charges. His arrest took place at approximately 8:30 in the evening. The Citrus County Sheriff's deputies found a scale, marijuana, plastic baggies, cocaine, and cash after the Sherrif's deputies searched the man and his vehicle. The drugs and drug paraphernalia were found in a backpack that the suspect was carrying with him.
According to the report, the suspect was clocked at 48 MPH in a 25 MPH zone on Roosevelt Boulevard by a Sheriff's deputy. The news report states that the suspect was traveling west on Roosevelt Boulevard, and the Sheriff's deputy turned around after clocking the speeding car driven by the suspect. As the Sheriff's deputy turned around to stop the suspect's car, the Sheriff's deputy turned on his overhead lights and headed south on County Road 491. to make a traffic stop. The report states that the deputy reached speeds of over 50 mph in order to catch up to the suspect's car. The suspect turned onto South Lee Street and then turned onto Oak Hollow Drive. The suspect then pulled up to the front yard of his ex-girlfriend's house, which was located on Oak Hollow Drive.
The news report claims that the suspect jumped out of his motor vehicle, and then ran toward the front door of the house with his black backpack. The Sheriff's deputy pursued the suspect on foot, grabbed the suspect as they both reached the front door of the house, and their momentum pushed them into the home. The suspect continued to resist the deputy and pulled his arms away from the deputy, and the suspect refused to place his hands behind his back as ordered by the Sheriff's deputy. The suspect threw his backpack to his ex-girlfriend. The deputy was able to finally handcuff the suspect. According to the report, the woman was the owner of the house.
Sheriff's deputies recovered the suspect's black backpack from the woman, and the deputies found the backpack held 56.5 grams of marijuana, 7.4 grams of cocaine, $160 in cash, 23 individually wrapped cannabis oil vape pens, and miscellaneous other items that are used when selling cocaine. The suspect's driver's license was already suspended, and the suspect had been charged with numerous "driving while license suspended" offenses.
The suspect has been charged with six offenses, including driving with a license suspended or revoked, fleeing a law enforcement officer with lights and sirens, possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell. The suspect's bail bond was set at $27,500.