Deputy Crawford attempted to pull over a Silver Chevrolet Impala after determining the driver was speeding and the tint on the car appeared to be too dark.
Once the vehicle stopped and Deputy Crawford exited his vehicle the driver of the stopped vehicle, later identified as Jamale Lamar Whitaker,22, punched the gas and took off.
Lights and siren blazing, Deputy Crawford began pursuit.
Whitaker led Deputy Crawford on a short chase making multiple turns, running stop signs and rapidly swerving off of the roadway in an attempt to lose Deputy Crawford. This chase took place while it was raining.
Whitaker, realizing he couldn’t shake Deputy Crawford, jumped out of [his] car and attempted to flee on foot. However K-9 “Cadet”, anxiously waiting to get out of the car, was hot on Whitaker’s “tail.” Whitaker also made the foot chase a little easier for K-9 “Cadet” due to the fact that Whitaker’s pants were hanging of his rear, making it difficult for [him] to run. K-9 “Cadet” was able to secure Whitaker without incident.
Once Whitaker was secure, Deputy Crawford searched him and found $433.00 in [his] front pocket.
Additional units arrived on the scene and assisted in the search of Whitaker’s vehicle. Deputies found two plastic bags of marijuana along with a plastic bag containing a white powder that field tested positive for cocaine. All three bags were sitting in the passenger seat of the vehicle. Additionally, deputies found a Kel-Tec 9MM handgun on the rear floor board behind the front passenger seat. The gun was loaded with a round in the chamber, and eight rounds in the magazine.
According to reports, Whitaker said he ran from deputies because he was in the middle of smoking a “Blunt.” He said the marijuana was his, but denied knowing how the cocaine or handgun came to be in his car.
Whitaker was arrested and transported to the Marion County Jail. He was charged with Use or Display of a Firearm During a Felony, Fleeing and Eluding a Law Enforcement Officer, Possession of Cocaine, Resisting an Officer Without Violence and Possession of Marijuana.
Despite Whitaker having illegal tint on his vehicle, he was not issued a citation.
Whitaker was released from jail on a $17,000 bond.
K-9 “Cadet” was not injured during the incident.
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