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Accused carjacker caught after high-speed, cross-county pursuit
A 41-year-old man accused of carjacking an elderly woman led authorities on a high-speed pursuit through Volusia County, reaching speeds of up to 137 mph and driving into oncoming traffic before crashing and running from officers, investigators said.
VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. - A 41-year-old man accused of carjacking an elderly woman led authorities on a high-speed pursuit through Volusia County, reaching speeds of up to 137 mph and driving into oncoming traffic before crashing and running from officers, investigators said.
Scott Taylor was arrested after a multi-agency pursuit that began after investigators say he stole a vehicle from a woman near Destination Daytona.
The backstory:
Video released by Ormond Beach police shows a man running toward the woman’s vehicle, forcing her out and driving away, according to authorities.
The pursuit eventually reached State Road 44 in New Smyrna Beach, where investigators say Taylor crossed into oncoming traffic, putting other drivers in his path.
"When that guy gets on the wrong side of that highway, you say a prayer," Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood said. "Because nothing, once he’s on the wrong side of that highway, it’s going to end in a head-on collision."
Authorities said Taylor eventually crashed into another vehicle near a Walmart. He then got out of the stolen vehicle and ran, investigators said.
Body camera footage shows officers chasing Taylor on foot and repeatedly ordering him to get on the ground before taking him into custody.
Chitwood said license plate-reading cameras played a significant role in allowing authorities to follow Taylor even when officers temporarily lost sight of the stolen vehicle.
"Flock cameras tracked this guy all the way down 95," Chitwood said. "Flock cameras enabled us to know what direction he was going till police can get visual on him again."
Authorities said the stolen vehicle’s license plate had been entered into the Flock camera system, which alerted law enforcement when the vehicle was traveling east on State Road 44.
Chitwood said those alerts helped officers determine where Taylor was headed and position themselves accordingly.
"Once it hit that intersection and everybody knew he was eastbound from this intersection, there were only so many places he can go," Chitwood said.
Despite the speeds and crashes during the pursuit, authorities said no one was seriously injured.
What's next:
Taylor was booked into the Volusia County Branch Jail and faces multiple felony charges from several law enforcement agencies.
The Source: This story was written based on information shared by the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office.