Florida Man Hides Meth in Ranch Bottle—Crashes After Wild Police Chase

On 1/22/2024, at approx 1418 hours, I, Trooper David Ramos, was traveling NB on County Road 229, north of SR 44. I observed a black Infinity Q60 traveling SB with the front windshield tinted below the A/S1 line. I conducted a U-turn and began traveling southbound on County Road 229 to overtake the Infinity. The Infinity made a right turn into the Dunkin’ Donuts located at 838 SR 44, Wildwood, FL 34785.

I entered the private driveway and observed the Infinity increase speed and round the northwest corner of the building at a high rate of speed. I initiated the emergency lights and siren of my marked patrol vehicle, but the Infinity continued to flee at a high rate of speed. The vehicle completed one and a half laps around the Dunkin’ Donuts before making a right-hand turn out of the parking lot, running a stop sign in the process. The Infinity negotiated a left-hand curve, approached the intersection of SR 44, ran the stop sign at the intersection, and turned left onto eastbound SR 44, west of County Road 229.

I overtook the Infinity and paced it at a speed of 138 mph in a 60 mph zone, weaving around other vehicles. The Infinity approached two vehicles occupying both the inside and outside lanes and veered onto the grassy center median to pass them. This driving pattern demonstrated a wanton disregard for the safety of people and property in the area. The driver lost control of the vehicle, causing it to veer right across the EB lanes of SR 44. The Infinity struck a posted stop sign at the intersection of a private driveway leading to Compass Boat & R.V. Storage.

The vehicle entered the south grassy shoulder, where it rotated and came to rest facing east. I immediately positioned my patrol car directly in front of the Infinity, exited my vehicle, drew my department-issued Glock 45, took a defensive position behind my patrol car, and aimed my firearm at the driver-side window. The driver attempted to reverse and pull forward out of the ditch multiple times, unsuccessfully. I commanded the driver to step out of the vehicle several times, but he did not comply. The driver partially lowered the window and briefly communicated with me. When asked to fully lower the window, the driver said he would, but he never did. He continued to resist and oppose every command given to him.

Wildwood PD officers and additional FHP troopers arrived on the scene. As we approached the Infinity to assist the driver out of the vehicle, he finally opened the driver-side door, stepped out, and surrendered to law enforcement officers and troopers. The driver was placed under arrest and seated in the back seat of my marked patrol car. The driver was identified as Keon Lamar Marsh. A DAVID query revealed that Mr. Marsh's driver’s license had been revoked on 6/30/23, and he had two prior convictions for driving with a suspended/revoked license.

I conducted an inventory search of the Infinity and discovered the following items of note:

1 clear plastic bag containing a white powdery substance in the driver's door
1 clear plastic bag containing a purple powdery substance in the glove box
1 backpack containing:
1 Glock 21.45 with one round in the chamber
1 30-round extended magazine, loaded with ammunition
757 grams of a crystalline substance in a clear plastic gallon zip-lock bag (field-tested positive for meth)
2 scales
New, unused plastic bags and baggies
1 clear plastic bag containing a white powdery substance
1 Alprazolam prescription bottle prescribed to Janet Green, with 26 pills inside
Multiple lumps of a white substance hidden inside a ranch dressing container

Meth was weighed using a Sumter County Sheriff's Office OHAUS scale. At approx 1623 hours, Trooper D. Lewis, a certified Glock armorer, inspected the Glock 21 recovered in this case. Trooper Lewis noted that the factory backing plate on the slide had been replaced with a non-factory device, converting the handgun into a fully automatic machine gun. Using his agency-issued ThermoScientific analyzer, Trooper Lewis tested the crystalline substance in the gallon zip-lock bag, which tested positive for meth.

Throughout the pursuit, no other individual exited the Infinity, either while it was in motion or at its final rest. Mr. Marsh was the sole occupant of the vehicle. The driver's seat was positioned as far back as possible, suitable for a tall individual. Mr. Marsh is approximately 6'3", making the seat position ideal for him.

At approx 1752 hours, I read Mr. Marsh his Miranda rights. He invoked his rights and declined to answer any questions or make statements. I transported him to the Sumter County Jail without further incident.

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