Manatee County sheriff’s deputies arrested St. Petersburg residents Tyrone Davis, 20, and Jordan Graber, 19, July 16 on multiple felony counts after the pair led police on a high-speed car chase through the city.
Davis, who allegedly drove the vehicle, was charged with a first-degree felony for aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer and a second-degree felony for fleeing law enforcement at high speeds, as well as two third-degree felonies for motor vehicle theft and possession of cocaine and marijuana, controlled substances, with intent to sell or deliver.
Graber, who reportedly rode in the passenger seat, was charged with a second-degree felony for possession of cocaine and marijuana with intent to sell or deliver and a second-degree misdemeanor for trespassing in conveyance.
The Holmes Beach Police Department’s license plate recognition system pinged a vehicle as stolen, so an officer located it and attempted a traffic stop in the Waterline Marina Resort parking lot after backup arrived.
However, the motorist rammed his vehicle into the driver’s side of an HBPD cruiser and drove away.
An officer followed the motorist, who was driving “in excess of 75 mph,” and saw him swerve into oncoming traffic and nearly collide head-on with another motorist, according to the police report.
The officer followed the motorist onto Manatee Avenue, where sheriff’s deputies and Bradenton Police Department officers had cleared the roadway and laid “stop sticks” to deflate the vehicle’s tires.
The fleeing motorist then drove into a landscaped hill, where the vehicle became immovable, and an HBPD officer and MCSO deputies arrested Davis and Graber at gunpoint.
A search of their vehicle found bags containing 90.4 grams of marijuana and 8.5 grams of cocaine.
Police also found a digital scale, gloves and ski masks, as well as “numerous driver’s licenses, identification cards and debit/credit cards from numerous different individuals.”
MCSO deputies transported Davis and Graber to the Manatee County jail.
Davis remained in custody with a $67,500 bond as of July 20.
Graber was released July 16 after posting a $7,620 bond.
If convicted, punishment for a first-degree felony charge includes up to 30 years in prison and probation and a fine of up to $10,000.
Punishment for the other charges varies from up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000 to 60 days in jail, a $500 fine and six months of probation.
Davis’ arraignment was not scheduled as of July 20.
An arraignment for Graber will be at 9 a.m. Friday, Aug. 12, at the Manatee County Judicial Center, 1051 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.
— Ryan Paice