Daytona Beach, FL - A Daytona Beach Police officer is in the hospital with serious injuries after his patrol vehicle was crashed into by a car driven by 38-year-old Sylvester Armstrong during a pursuit. Also charged is 39-year-old Antonio Bradley, who was a passenger in the vehicle.
The incident started as an attempted traffic stop at Bellevue Avenue and South Martin Luther King Blvd around 2 a.m. today (May 15) for a non-visible tag light on a 2020 F-150 bearing an Arizona tag. Even though the officer activated emergency lights and sirens, the driver, Armstrong, sped away.
As DBPD officers and Volusia Sheriff's deputies attempted to locate, they noted that Armstrong failed to stop at any stop signs, eventually t-boning the injured officers patrol vehicle at the intersection of Cedar Street and S. Martin Luther King Boulevard. The officer was able to get out through the passenger side window and then collapsed on the street.
Other officers arrived on scene as Bradley was getting out the vehicle. Though given commands to stop, he resisted arrest but was finally handcuffed. Armstrong was found laying in the vehicle in an attempt to hide from officers. He was extracted from the vehicle while ignoring officer commands.
A probable cause search of Armstrong's person turned up a baggie containing 5.6 grams of a white/tan powderey substance that yielded a presumptive reaction for the presence of cocaine.
A probable cause search of the vehicle revealed a lot more trouble for Armstrong and Bradley. It located a large clear plastic baggy which contained 22 smaller clear zipper type baggies each containing a white/tan powdery substance with a total presumptive weight of 16.6 grams on the passenger side seat of the vehicle. Due to how the narcotics were packed, it's more consistent with street level narcotics sales rather than personal use.
Another charge against them is where the accident happened which was within 1,000 feet of the MT Bethel Baptist Church.
Both Armstrong and Bradley, along with the injured police officer, were transported to the hospital. Both defendants were immediately cleared with little to no injuries. The officer was admitted for serious injuries due to the lack of care for human life shown by Armstrong as he attempted to elude law enforcement.
Armstrong is charged with Aggravated Fleeing and Eluding with Serious Injury, Resisting an Officer without Violence, Sale or Delivery of Cocaine within 1,000 feet of a Place of Worship, and Driving Habitually Without a License. He's being held without bond.
Bradley is also being held without bond on charges of Sale or Delivery of Cocaine within 1,000 feet of a Place of Worship, Resisting an Officer without Violence, and Robbery with a Firearm.
