A Leesburg woman was arrested for resisting an officer when she fled from a traffic stop because she “panicked” seeing his patrol car behind her.
A deputy observed the driver of a white SUV, later identified as 42-year-old Jessica Lee Guerry, leaving a residence near East Treasure Island Road known for stolen vehicles and high crime Wednesday morning, according to an arrest report from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
The deputy tried to turn around to check the vehicle’s tag, at which point the vehicle headed west on East Treasure Road and turned south on County Road 44. Upon catching up to the vehicle, it made an abrupt stop before accelerating past vehicles in a no-passing zone. The deputy was then able to see the vehicle’s tag, the report said.
As a result, the deputy activated his emergency lights and siren in an attempt to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle. It did not stop and instead continued to flee by turning westbound onto U.S. Highway 441. The traffic stop was terminated, and a BOLO, or “Be on the Lookout,” was issued to surrounding agencies for the vehicle, the report said.
At about 10:18 a.m., Guerry and the vehicle were found by the Fruitland Park Police Department at U.S. Highway 27/441 and Register Road. The deputy responded to the area, and he was able to identify Guerry as the driver who fled from him. He read her rights, and she confessed to fleeing. She also stated she panicked upon seeing his patrol car behind her, the report said.
Guerry was subsequently arrested on charge of resist officer (flee/elude law enforcement officer with lights siren active). She was transported to Lake County Jail and released after posting $5,000 bond.