A Leesburg man with a history of running from the law was charged with eluding police after speeding away from a traffic stop and crashing into a fence.
Police observed the driver of a grey Mercedes, later identified as 28-year-old Tyler Kennard Reed, fail to obey a stop sign as he turned onto South Haines Creek Road in Leesburg at about 9:15 p.m. Tuesday, according to an arrest report from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. He also failed to stop prior to the white stop line at South Haines Creek Road and County Road 473.
Reed turned onto CR 473, and the officer followed him as he called out his location for assistance from another unit. Reed continued onto Poe Street. The officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but Reed immediately sped up to flee. In doing so, he did not stop at the intersection of Radio Road as it continued toward County ROad 44. Another officer was sitting stationary just prior to the intersection and was able to successfully deploy a tire deflation device on the vehicle, the report said.
Reed did not even attempt to stop at the intersection as he made a left turn onto CR 44, cutting off two other vehicles in the process. Had it not been for their immediate reactions, Reed would have caused an accident. He continued to speed while his tires deflated and endangered every vehicle that he passed in either direction, the report said.
A third officer and a trainee were just west of the intersection of CR 44 and CR 44 Leg A as Reed lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a small fence. They approached the scene and watched Reed exit the vehicle from the driver’s seat before he surrendered himself to them, the report said.
The report noted that an inventory of the vehicle was conducted prior to towing, at which point a marijuana cigarette was found in the center console.
Reed was charged with flee/elude (high speed disregard for public safety) and possession of marijuana (less than 20 grams). After receiving a medical evaluation, he was transported to the Lake County Jail and released after posting $11,000 bond.
This is the second time this year Reed has attempted to escape law enforcement, as he was arrested this past April for Mercedes driver nabbed with gun and large cache of drugs
