Brandon Hunt, 18, of Sarasota is facing five charges after a high-speed car chase Dec. 29, 2023, beginning in Holmes Beach and ending in Sarasota.
The charges from Manatee County sheriff’s deputies include:
- A second-degree felony for allegedly fleeing to elude law enforcement with disregard for the safety of persons or property;
- A second- or third-degree felony for alleged aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer;
- A third-degree felony for alleged failure to obey a law enforcement officer’s order to stop;
- A first-degree misdemeanor for alleged reckless driving first offense;
- A second-degree misdemeanor for allegedly leaving the scene of a crash.
A Holmes Beach police officer around 10:38 p.m. saw a motorist driving a Ford Mustang south on Gulf Drive at a high speed, proceeding through a red light at the intersection with East Bay Drive.
The officer activated lights and sirens for a traffic stop, but the motorist accelerated and moved into the path of oncoming, northbound traffic to pass a motorist on Gulf Drive.
The Holmes Beach Police Department notified the Bradenton Beach Police Department of the pursuit and, soon after, the BBPD officer posted near the intersection of Gulf Drive and Cortez Road saw the vehicle pass the intersection at a high speed around 10:40 p.m.
The officer also attempted a traffic stop but the motorist accelerated south before heading back north at the Bridge Street roundabout.
The motorist drove northbound in Gulf Drive’s southbound lane, causing another officer to swerve off the roadway.
Police continued the chase across the Cortez Bridge onto the mainland, where the motorist swerved into oncoming traffic to pass others and drove out of sight of pursuers.
Around 10:43 p.m., an MCSO deputy sighted the motorist traveling southbound on 75th Street West.
An MCSO helicopter tailed the motorist into Sarasota County and, according to a BBPD report, “after multiple incidents, were able to stop the vehicle and arrest the driver,” identified as Hunt.
A deputy transported Hunt to the Manatee County jail, where he remained in custody under a $9,240 bond as of Jan. 4.
The HBPD officer involved in the case filed a capias request for a second-degree felony against Hunt for allegedly fleeing to elude with “wanton disregard” for persons and property.
A BBPD officer involved in the case filed a capias request against Hunt for the same charge and a first-degree misdemeanor for reckless driving, as well as the aggravated assault charge.
According to a BBPD report, the assault charge was due to Hunt “driving recklessly at a high rate of speed, in the opposite direction of traffic, directly in the path of a marked patrol car with its lights and sirens activated, causing the police officer to frantically swerve out of the roadway onto the sidewalk in order to not be struck.”
If convicted, punishment for a second-degree felony charge includes up to 15 years in prison, 15 years of probation and a fine of up to $10,000.
Punishment for a third-degree felony charge includes up to five years in prison, five years of probation and a fine of up to $5,000.
A first-degree misdemeanor charge carries up to one year of jail time, one year of probation and a fine of up to $1,000.
A second-degree misdemeanor charge carries up to 60 days of jail time, six months of probation and a fine of up to $500.
An arraignment was not scheduled as of Jan. 4.