CITRUS SPRINGS, Fla. — A man is in custody after he attempted to drive away from Citrus County deputies Friday evening, running into other motorists in the process and threatening the safety of a K-9, the deputies and other drivers, the sheriff's office said.
Deputies say Ahvi Samaad Deberry-Howe, 23, of Elgin, South Carolina, caused multiple traffic accidents by intentionally and violently ramming vehicles in front of him.
It all began after deputies attempted to make a traffic stop on Deberry-Howe's black four-door sedan in Citrus Springs, but he failed to pull over and stop for law enforcement, the Citrus County Sheriff's Office reported in a news release.
Deputies spotted a similar car and driver matching the earlier description just before 2 p.m. in Inverness and after verifying that it was the same car, they attempted another traffic stop. However, the 23-year-old did not pull over.
Deberry-Howe continued west on East Gulf to Lake Highway and was forced to stop when he met traffic congestion near the intersection of South Croft Avenue. At this time, the sheriff's office said deputies attempted to make contact with the man who "refused all commands."
A K-9 was deployed but his handler retrieved them just before the Deberry-Howe's car struck another car and almost slammed the door on the dog.
"The suspect vehicle then began to intentionally and violently ram the vehicles in front of it in an attempt to flee, carelessly and recklessly disregarding the safety of the innocent motorists and the deputies who were on scene," the sheriff's office said in the release.
This is when deputies fired upon the man in an attempt to put a stop "to this motorist's deadly action."
By ramming the cars near him, Deberry-Howe was able to open a space so he could drive off. The sheriff's office said he continued west on Gulf to Lake Highway for another 7 miles at speeds of more than 100 mph before driving into oncoming traffic and losing control of the car. Deberry-Howe side-swiped multiple cars before coming to a complete stop near the ramps of the Suncoast Parkway along Highway 44.
Citrus County deputies were able to secure him and begin rendering first aid until EMS arrived. He was taken into custody and then transported to the hospital for medical treatment.
Deberry-Howe is facing charges of attempted murder of a law enforcement officer, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, aggravated fleeing and eluding, and resisting with and without violence. He is being held with no bond.
"Traffic stops can be dangerous; when we initiate one, everyone's safety is always at the forefront of our minds," Sheriff Prendergast said in a statement. "Thanks to the courage, quick thinking, and immediate actions of our deputies, no law enforcement or citizens were injured due to this suspect's chaotic and irrational actions."