Man leads deputies on chase with 15-year-old and 4-year-old in the car

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. (FOX 35 WOFL) - The Volusia County Sheriff's Office reports that a man driving a stolen vehicle with a missing 15-year-old girl and a 4-year-old boy in the car led Volusia County sheriff's deputies on an early-morning pursuit out of Daytona Beach until he bailed out and was caught hiding in some bushes off Interstate 4 (I-4).

26-year-old Jervaughn A. Bonner was driving a stolen 2018 Ford passenger car around 12:10 a.m. when it was captured by License Plate Reader technology on International Speedway Boulevard in Daytona. 

Deputies say that the vehicle, with the help of the license plate reader technology, was spotted at a red light at International Speedway Boulevard and Nova Road. One deputy pulled alongside the car while another deputy exited his vehicle and ordered Bonner to put his ands up. The children in the vehicle were not visible at the time.

Bonner is said to have looked at the deputies and made eye contact, then accelerated, ramming one of the patrol cars and fleeing south on Nova, then U-turning back north and heading west on International Speedway.

Stop sticks were used at International Speedway Boulevard and White Street to deflate the driver's side tires, says the Volusia County Sheriff's Office. However, Bonner was driving at speeds estimated at 80 to 100 miles per hour, so he was able to continue west on International Speedway, past I-96 and Tomoka Farms Road. About a half-mile west of Tomoka Farms, Bonner hit another set of stop sticks.

Deputies say that Bonner headed onto I-4 from there with his tires deflated. He hit a guardrail along the way. He kept heading west on the interstate as is front driver's side tire disintegrated and the wheel began throwing sparks.

Bonner is said to have eventually pulled into the median and bailed out of the vehicle. Bonner and the 15-year-old passenger ran and a deputy saw her trying to hid in some bushes. She was pulled away from the shrubbery and placed in a patrol car while a K-9 unit looked for Bonner, ultimately apprehending him on the arm.

Bonner was taken to Halifax Health Medical Center for treatment of arm injuries sustained in the K-9 apprehension, according to the Volusia County Sheriff's Office. Bonner told deputies he heard the K-9 warnings and heard the dog come near him, but didn't think he was going to find him.

Bonner is charged with grand theft auto, aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, two counts child abuse, fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement, interference with child custody, driving while license suspended or revoked and resisting an officer without violence. 

The 15-year-old was returned to her mother. The 4-year-old, who was found in the front seat without a seatbelt or a child restraint seat, was placed in the car of the State Department of Children and Families. There were no injuries to the children or any of the deputies involved.

There is body cam footage of the chase. Watch the full video below.