A man in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, is accused of fleeing from local police and sheriff’s deputies back-to-back. Allegedly, he would then avoid getting arrested by hiding under a car at an Amazon parking lot. He was subsequently bitten by a K-9 unit and later taken into custody.
According to a post by the Volusia Sheriff’s Office (VSO), the incident occurred on Saturday, June 13. During the night, officers with the New Smyrna Beach Police Department attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle.
The driver, later identified as Jabari Deas, allegedly refused to pull over and fled the traffic stop. He began heading west on Interstate-4, as per the VSO.
Moments later, a VSO deputy observed the vehicle traveling in the DeLand area. Another traffic stop was attempted, and just like the first one, Deas refused to stop, police said.
Footage Shared
The VSO shared footage of the driver traveling through the streets heading to Deltona. At around 11:40 p.m., Deas is observed turning and entering an Amazon parking lot.
Air One crew observed the man parking his vehicle in an empty slot. He was driving slowly, potentially thinking he was about to come out of this series of traffic stop fleeings legally unscathed.
However, a patrol car arrived at the scene shortly after, stopping right next to Deas. He, at the time, was hiding behind another vehicle, parked next to his.
Crawling and Hiding
As a deputy exited his patrol unit, Deas is shown becoming aware that he was about to be arrested. He then began crawling on all fours, in an attempt to flee law enforcement, again.
The footage shows Deas eventually picking up his pace and retreating to another vehicle in the parking lot. And with the Air One crew watching, he decided to slide underneath it.
With the VSO fully aware of his location, the responding deputy decided to approach him. He didn’t do that by himself, though, as he recruited the help of his police partner, K-9 Red.
Suspect Bitten and Arrested
After warning the suspect to step out of hiding, the Air One crew told the deputy where exactly Deas was. With K-9 Red barking, the deputy and dog eventually reached the suspect’s hiding place.
And just like the deputy warned, the police dog approached the hiding Deas and attacked. The Florida man was bitten in the right arm, and he eventually complied and crawled out from underneath the car.
Jabari Deas was then placed under arrest. He was subsequently taken to Halifax Health for treatment, only to be taken to jail immediately after his release.
As per the Volusia County Corrections, Deas is charged with fleeing or attempting to elude high speed, driving while license canceled, suspended, or revoked, possession of less than 20 grams of cannabis, use, possession, or manufacture of paraphernalia – transport drugs, and resisting an officer – obstruction without violence. His bond was set at $4,500.