A Florida man turned an attempted traffic stop into a pursuit involving a pickup truck spinning donuts in the roadway, an alleged attempt to strike a deputy’s patrol vehicle, and a chase that continued even after deputies punctured the truck’s tires.
Joshua Gallagher, 37, of Port St. Lucie, was arrested October 15 after St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office deputies tracked his fleeing pickup from the ground and air before using a PIT maneuver to bring it to a stop.
According to the sheriff’s office, Gallagher initially made a U-turn rather than pull over, then began spinning donuts on South Ocean Boulevard, forcing approaching drivers to take evasive action. The encounter escalated when he accelerated toward the deputy’s vehicle and fled northbound.
The pursuit eventually ended near Seaway Drive, where Gallagher refused repeated commands to leave the disabled truck. Deputies deployed pepper balls into the vehicle before taking him into custody.
A Traffic Stop Takes an Unexpected Turn
The encounter began in the 9600 block of South Ocean Boulevard when a patrol deputy attempted to stop Gallagher’s pickup for a traffic violation. Instead of complying, the driver made a U-turn and began spinning donuts in the roadway, creating a hazard for other motorists approaching the area.
Gallagher briefly stopped but then made another U-turn, crossed lanes of traffic, and accelerated toward the deputy’s patrol vehicle, according to the sheriff’s account. The deputy avoided a collision, and the pickup continued northbound as Gallagher attempted to escape.
The sheriff’s aviation unit, known as AIR 2, began tracking the truck from overhead while deputies on the ground coordinated efforts to stop it. Near Binney Drive, they successfully deployed stop sticks, puncturing the pickup’s tires, but Gallagher continued driving despite the damage.
The Chase Reaches Seaway Drive
With its tires punctured, the truck continued through the Seaway Drive roundabout and headed eastbound along Seaway Drive. Detectives assigned to the sheriff’s Special Investigations Unit joined the pursuit and positioned themselves behind the pickup.
They executed a precision immobilization technique, commonly called a PIT maneuver, bringing the truck to a stop and ending the vehicle pursuit.
Gallagher remained inside despite repeated commands to exit. Deputies then fired pepper balls into the pickup, prompting him to leave the vehicle, after which he was arrested without further incident.
The sheriff’s office identified Gallagher as the driver and announced charges including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, and resisting an officer without violence.
Seven Charges Listed After the Arrest
Gallagher’s official St. Lucie County Jail booking record lists seven charges, including two counts of fleeing or eluding law enforcement with emergency lights and sirens activated, reckless driving, possession of drug paraphernalia, and the three offenses identified in the sheriff’s announcement.
The jail listed a combined bond of $75,650, including $50,000 for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Gallagher was booked October 15 at 9:39 p.m.
A felony case filed in St. Lucie County on October 16 lists four counts: aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, controlled substance possession, drug paraphernalia possession, and resisting an officer without violence. The remaining traffic-related allegations appear in the jail’s booking record but are not included in that felony docket.
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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