Disabled vehicle check near Chiefland leads to car chase and second vehicle theft by suspect
The FWC officer came upon the vehicle, a white Kia Sorrento sports utility vehicle (SUV), on US Alt 27, near NW 10th Ave., southeast of Chiefland.
The officer noticed that the vehicle appeared to have crashed and had a flat tire. The driver refused to identify himself, and the officer learned that the tag attached to the Kia was not assigned to that vehicle. At this point, the driver - later identified as Dante Evan Schmucker, 29, of Orange Park, Florida - drove away, and the FWC officer began to pursue him.
Deputies from the Levy County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) joined in the pursuit as the SUV neared Bronson, FL. Mr. Schmucker, the driver of the fleeing SUV, turned south onto CR 337, where he stopped the vehicle in the middle of the road, exited the vehicle and took off running, holding what appeared to be a rifle in his hands.
Officers lost sight of Schmucker in the dark. Within minutes, the LCSO Communications division received a 911 call from a person who explained that a man had just broken into his home, demanded the keys to his 2008 Pontiac vehicle, and had driven away in his vehicle.
Deputies quickly located the stolen vehicle and a second pursuit began of Mr. Schmucker, as he fled south on CR 337, heading toward Morriston, attempting to elude deputies.
A press release by the LCSO stated, than on three occasions, Schmucker attempted to drive head-on into deputies. Eventually, the Buick was blocked by Deputy Williamson's patrol vehicle, and Schmucker accelerated into Deputy Williamson’s vehicle, damaging the passenger side of the patrol vehicle. During Schmucker's final attempt to elude deputies, Deputy Williamson trapped Schmucker within the stolen Buick by blocking his exit with his patrol vehicle. Schmucker, who refused commands to surrender, was forcefully removed from the car by deputies.
According to the LCSO, the first vehicle, the Kia Sorrento SUV, had been stolen in Valdosta, Georgia.
Schmucker was charged with leaving the scene of a crash with property damage, reckless driving, driving under the influence, driving under the influence with property damage, 2 counts of fleeing from law enforcement, attaching registration to a license plate not assigned to it, operating a vehicle without a valid license, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill, aggravated battery using a deadly weapon, criminal mischief with property damage greater than $200 but less than $1,000, unarmed burglary of an occupied dwelling, 2 counts of motor vehicle theft, and possession of methamphetamine ($1,465,000 bond).