Brandon Partain, who escaped from deputies in Morriston, found and arrested in Ocala
Photo courtesy of LCSO.
Levy County Sheriff's Office (LCSO)
Twenty-six year-old Brandon Partain, of Dunnellon, Florida - who had escaped in handcuffs after being arrested on Tuesday morning, April 22, 2025 in Morriston, Florida - was captured on April 24, 2025, by deputies from two law enforcement agencies working together on a property crimes investigation.
On April 24, 2025, detectives with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office met with detectives with the Levy County Sheriff's Office to assist them in the investigation. Marion County detectives were aware of a location in Bronson, Florida, in Levy County, where stolen property may be hidden; they also had a home in the Marion Oaks subdivision of Ocala, Florida, in Marion County, under surveillance - and knew these two locations were connected. Levy County detectives were aware that the location in Bronson was frequented by Partain, and conveyed that information to the Marion County detectives.
It was possible that Partain - who was still at large after his escape - could be at either location
As a result, the detectives responded to the two homes in the separate counties. Partain was located inside the home in Marion County, and when located, Partain gave his brother's name as his identification, in a final ditch effort to elude capture, but law enforcement did not fall for his ploy. He was taken into custody.
The previous day, April 23, 2025, warrants for Partain's arrest had been obtained in Levy County on charges of escape, battery on law enforcement, resisting arrest, and theft, with his bond set at $900,000. This is in addition to warrants for Partain from Flagler County, Florida and the Williston (Florida) Police Departmentthat existed prior to his escape on April 22..
According to LCSO Lieutenant Scott Tummond, "Deputies involved in Tuesday’s incident are extremely relieved that Partain is off the streets; quoted as saying, ' Hope these two days of freedom were worth the new felony charges and long prison sentence he faces.'”
Lt. Tummond added, "Levy County Sheriff McCallum and Marion County Sheriff Woods are proud of the cooperation and collaboration between the two offices and the detectives involved that led to this successful apprehension. Agency cooperation is key to solving crimes and apprehending fugitives. This is a perfect example of how well law enforcement work together for a common cause, keeping our citizens safe."
Partain's Escape
On April 22, 2025, 26 year-old Brandon Partain was located in the area of CR 337 and CR 326 in Morriston, Florida by deputies with the Levy County Sheriff's Office who were aware Partain that he had a warrant for his arrest.
Partain initially cooperated with deputies and surrendered to them without resistance. However, while Partain was handcuffed and walking with the arresting deputy down a flight of stairs, he struck the deputy with his shoulder and elbow, knocking him off balance, then ran into a nearby wooded area to evade capture.
Law enforcement personnel flooded the area and established a perimeter around the location where Partain had fled. Deputies working the inner perimeter found barefoot prints in the sand. At the time Partain fled from deputies, he was wearing shoes that were later located in an area witnesses described as Partain's direction of travel. Witnesses also described Partain as wearing handcuffs in front of his body.
K-9 Units from the Lancaster Correctional Facility in Trenton, Florida and the Cross City Correctional Facility in Cross City, Florida trailed Partain's barefoot prints to a road, where they lost Partain's track, which strengthened a theory that Partain had obtained assistance from someone who had picked him up.
At the time, Partain was wanted in Levy and Flagler Counties in Florida. He was not considered armed or dangerous, but desperate to avoid capture and get out of Levy County. A reward for his capture was offered through Crime Stoppers. It was publicized that he was last seen barefooted, wearing a blue shirt and light colored pants.