FHP Pursuit of Ford Pickup Truck at Naval Base in Bay County, Florida

On 10/21/2023, I was traveling north on Thomas Dr, just north of Patrons Drive. While traveling north, I observed a white Ford pickup truck traveling south on Thomas Dr without headlights. After making a U-turn and catching up to the truck, I observed another vehicle traveling behind the white Ford, attempting to get the driver to turn on the headlights. As the other vehicle flashed its headlights at the Ford, the truck accelerated quickly and started driving down the middle of the roadway. While continuing south towards Magnolia Beach Road, it moved from the middle of the roadway into the continuous turn lane and continued south.

As it went through the intersection of Magnolia Beach Road and Thomas Dr, it began to travel in the middle of the roadway once again. As we approached the intersection of Thomas Dr and N. Lagoon Dr, the vehicle failed to stop for the red light. After passing through the intersection, the vehicle increased its speed as it traveled over the Lagoon Bridge. As the truck exited the bridge, the driver jerked the steering wheel, causing the vehicle to enter northbound traffic. While in the northbound lanes, the operator once again jerked the steering to the right, causing the vehicle to travel over the raised concrete, which blew out the right front tire.

After the right front tire blew out, the vehicle continued traveling north on Thomas Dr. As it reached the intersection of Thomas Dr and State Park Dr, the vehicle failed to stop once again for a red light. As we continued northbound on Thomas Dr, I attempted a PIT maneuver on the vehicle at Thomas Dr and Benbow St, but the driver was able to drive through it. A second PIT maneuver at Thomas Dr and Luff St was successful, bringing the vehicle to a final rest on the east shoulder of Thomas Dr just north of Luff St.

Contact was made with the driver, and he was ordered out of the vehicle at gunpoint, placed into handcuffs, and seated in the rear of my fully marked patrol vehicle.

This incident started at the Panama City NSA Navy Base and ended at Luff St. No parties were injured, and only Mr. Henderson's vehicle received damage from the PIT maneuver.

Mr. Henderson’s driving during this incident showed a willful and wanton disregard for the safety of the public and pedestrians in the area.

DUI Narrative:

After placing Mr. Henderson in my marked patrol vehicle and attempting to speak with him, it became apparent that he was under the influence of a narcotic or prescription drug. Mr. Henderson would speak clearly at times and then start yelling about how he needed to go home, claiming he lived nearby. However, the pursuit ended at Thomas Dr and Luff St by the Dollar General, and his address was on Lagoon Way. Mr. Henderson had fits of rage, kicking at the right rear passenger door and the prisoner cage in my vehicle. He alternated between being combative and passing out. Mr. Henderson's clothing was wet and sandy, and he could not explain how he got wet. He was sweating heavily despite the cooler temperature and the A/C being on high in the vehicle. Mr. Henderson was very focused on a flashlight in the bed of his pickup truck and continually asked about it.

Mr. Henderson displayed signs of being under the influence of a dissociative anesthetic (PCP). While in the vehicle, he showed the following signs: when I attempted to speak with him, he would just stare out the window and was non-communicative. When he did speak, it was mumbled and often nonsensical. The more time we spent together, the more he emitted an odor that appeared to be chemical.

Once at the jail, he was placed inside the booking holding cell awaiting processing. While inside the booking cell, he paced back and forth. When the jail nurse arrived to medically clear him, he stood at the cell door, staring blankly into the booking area. When removed from the holding cell and placed in the booking area, he refused to speak with the jail staff. As they were about to unhandcuff him, he tensed up and clenched his fists. For the safety of Mr. Henderson and the jail deputies, I requested a supervisor and a video recorder to document their interaction with him.

After he was in the holding cell, I spoke with the jail nurse about Mr. Henderson's behavior, and she agreed that he seemed to be under the influence of something, but she was unsure what it was.

Mr. Henderson was not given any field sobriety evaluation or offered any chemical test due to his behavior and lack of cooperation.

This offense occurred within Bay County, Florida.

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