Crazy Video of Pursuit that Injured Officer

Melbourne, Florida police took the driver of a stolen vehicle into custody on Thursday, after he led them on a pursuit in which an officer was injured. The chase stretched from Palm Bay through Melbourne at speeds up to 100 mph. Melbourne Police Officer Joseph O’Barr was injured after his patrol car ran over stop sticks, and then spun out of control. It is a common occurrence during pursuits for police vehicles to be damaged by stop strips. After the vehicle was stopped, the driver was tased and dragged out of the car.

WTSP reports:

Officer Joseph O’Barr was taken to Holmes Regional Medical Center for treatment but was in good condition, authorities said. A late model white Ford Mustang had been reported stolen out of Rockledge and the 35-year-old driver was identified as Johnathan Davis.

“We believe he was under the influence of drugs. We found methamphetamine in the car along with cash. We had to use the Taser to subdue him. He’s at Holmes Regional Medical Center,” said Cmdr. Dan Lynch of the Melbourne Police Department. “He was still trying to escape. We used the Taser and pulled him out. He says he was sore from the crash and the Taser.”

A Brevard County Sheriff’s Office helicopter assisted as patrol officers on the ground attempted to carry out a traffic stop. The Mustang was struck by another patrol car near Sarno Road in Melbourne, with officers blocking a portion of northbound U.S. 1. All lanes were clear and traffic was moving again at 11:00 a.m.

The stolen Mustang had actually been spotted late Wednesday in Melbourne but officers did not carry out a pursuit. The vehicle was seen again in Sebastian about 8 a.m. Thursday and fled into Brevard.

The chase began in Brevard after the vehicle was seen traveling up to 100 mph on U.S. 1 in Palm Bay. Witnesses said it was darting in and out of the traffic lanes.

Police reported that the vehicle then led officers into Melbourne and at one point came up to railroad tracks that run parallel to U.S. 1. Officers also deployed stop sticks to rip through the tires.

We wish the injured officer a speedy recovery. Good job by all involved.