MARTIN COUNTY, Fla. — A Florida man is facing charges after police said he stole a Mercedes and then drove the vehicle at dangerous speeds through six counties.
Investigators said Richard St. Leger was driving a stolen Mercedes at speeds over 178 mph before officers were able to flatten the vehicles tires using stop sticks, The Associated Press reported.
The Martin County Sheriff’s Office shared video on Facebook showing officers following the stolen car as it sped down Interstate 95. The car was initially reported stolen out of Orlando, but officers had stopped chasing the vehicle on the ground because of the driver’s dangerous speeds.
MCSO AIR 1 PLAYS KEY ROLE IN ENDING DANGEROUS PURSUIT, LEADING K-9 ZORRO RIGHT TO THE SUSPECT From start to finish MCSO Air1 was on top of it, literally. MCSO Pilot Deputy Clint Blankenship and Tactical Flight Officer Deputy Ed Stagmiller helped put an end to 20-year old Richard St. Leger's reckless and dangerous ride in a stolen vehicle. That ride started in Orlando and made its way into Martin County with the suspect driving at dangerous and reckless speeds. Here is what it looked like from the air. Deputies were able to disable the vehicle using stop sticks near the 96 mile marker. The suspect then fled on foot and tried to hide in swampy vegetation. That's when K-9 Zorro sealed the deal.
Posted by Martin County Sheriff's Office on Tuesday, May 3, 2022
The entire route of the chase spanned approximately 150 miles, The Associated Press reported.
The video shared by deputies shows the suspect get out of the car after the vehicle stops, running into a wooded area. Martin County Sheriff’s Deputies released K-9 Zorro, who quickly located the suspect and helped officers take Leger into custody.
MULTI-JURISDICTIONAL EFFORT TO STOP STOLEN VEHICLE MOVING 170 mph ENDS IN MARTIN COUNTY #WrongExit The danger to...
Posted by Martin County Sheriff's Office on Tuesday, May 3, 2022
Leger is facing a list of charges including grand theft of a motor vehicle and fleeing with a disregard for safety, according to deputies. A passenger in the vehicle, DeVonte Martin, was also arrested.
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