High-Speed Chase Leads to Three Arrests in Banks County

In Banks County, three Florida men are behind bars after leading Banks County Sheriff’s deputies on a high-speed chase.

It happened about 10p on Tuesday, January 12.

Banks County Sheriff’s spokesperson Sgt. Carissa McFaddin tells WLHR News, deputies spotted a blue Volkswagen Jetta weaving and failing to maintain its lane on I-85.

When deputies tried to pull the vehicle over, the Jetta exited the Interstate at Exit 149 and turned onto Industrial Boulevard and stopped.

When the deputy approached the car, the driver sped off and the chase began.

McFaddin said other patrol vehicles tried to block the Jetta in on Industrial Blvd but the driver managed to get away and back on to I-85.

And as one deputy attempted to exit his vehicle, the fleeing driver maneuvered his vehicle towards the deputy and his patrol unit.

The driver drove partially over a curb and struck the driver’s side of the patrol unit, narrowly missing the deputy who was able to quickly jump back into his patrol car just before it was hit.

Deputies chased the Jetta to Exit 126 and eventually used a PIT maneuver to stop the car.

According to McFaddin, a check of the car’s tag came back that the vehicle had been stolen out of Ocala, Florida.

Inside the vehicle, deputies found marijuana with a street value of $1,400.

Three suspects were arrested.

The driver is identified as 25-year old Jerrell Christopher Crawford of Ocala, Florida.

Crawford is charged with aggravated assault on a police officer, theft by receiving stolen property, fleeing or attempting to elude, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, and weaving over roadway.

Crawford’s passengers are identified as 30 year old Jason William Ricotta, of Daytona Beach, Florida and Anthony Curtis Battle of Ocala, Florida.

Both are charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.

They remain in the Banks County Detention Center.