Pierson, FL - A fugitive fleeing from deputies in Lake County ends up in the hands of Volusia County deputies after leading them on a chase spanning over 20 miles.
Reports say that the Volusia Sheriff's Office was notified by the Lake County Sheriff's office that a Chevy Trailblazer was fleeing from their deputies and was headed to Volusia early Saturday morning. That vehicle, according to LCSO, was being tracked by a GPS system that was providing real-time updates.
Lake County deputies informed Volusia deputies that the vehicle was last seen driving eastbound on State Road 44 towards the county line.
After getting the tip from LCSO, Volusia deputies were quick to set up stop sticks on likely escape routes in the area where the vehicle was last known to be.
Eventually, the truck was seen driving eastbound on SR 44 as it approached the intersection of Grand Avenue. It entered the roundabout, turned north and drove northbound onto Grand Avenue until it turned west onto Plymouth Avenue, before heading back to Grand Avenue at Glenwood Road.
After driving onto Glenwood, the truck continued to Spring Gard Avenue before turning to drive up northbound US-17.
Two Volusia deputies positioned themselves on US-17, with one in the 2200 block of the highway and the other just south of State Road 40. The truck then entered the area and hit the first stop-stick before hitting the second one near SR 40.
The truck continued north through the intersection of SR 40 as it began to shred its tires. Deputies then pulled in behind the vehicle to try to get it to stop. But, the truck did not stop and the chase continued northbound on US-17 as Air One joined in.
With three tires down, the truck reached the intersection of West Hagstrom Road and US-17/South Center Street and began to swerve rapidly including into oncoming traffic.
They continued northbound on Center towards West 3rd Avenue, until it dead-ended onto South Volusia Avenue. The truck then continued down South Volusia towards Hagstrom Road again, where they turned east and drove into the driveway of a home on Hagstrom.
The truck entered the driveway, struck a gate and continued until the driveway ended. At that point, the driver stopped and exited the truck before laying down on the ground to surrender.
Deputies then took him into custody and identified him as 26-year-old Charles Busby of Paisely, Florida.
A search of the vehicle's interior yielded a baggie containing a white crysalline substance that was later identified as a gram of methamphetamine. Deputies also reported a "green leafy substance" that was found in his pocket.
The truck was also found to have a license plate that did not belong to the vehicle. A query of the truck's VIN out of Ohio revealed that the truck was never registered.
Another search found that Busby's license had a total of 18 active suspensions, with most of them being failure to pay a financial obligation/traffic fine. Deputies also report that the chase lasted about 23 miles.
Busby was arrested and charged with fleeing and eluding, possession of meth, habitual traffic offender and operating an unregistered motor vehicle.
He's held in Volusia County Jail on a $15,000 bond.
