Driver Charged With Assaulting Police Officer

A driver from Ocala, Florida is charged with aggravated assault on a police officer after allegedly striking a patrol car during a chase last week in Banks County.

Banks County Sheriff’s Sgt. Carissa McFadden says 25-year old Jerrell Crawford fled from officers when they attempted to pull him over for failure to maintain lane on I-85 southbound on January 12. The deputies pursued Crawford onto 441 where patrol units blocked him behind a business on Industrial Boulevard.

“As one deputy attempted to exit his vehicle,” McFadden explains, “the fleeing driver maneuvered his vehicle towards the deputy and his patrol unit. The driver drove partially over a curb and struck the driver’s side of the patrol unit. Thankfully” she says, “the deputy had quickly jumped back into his patrol vehicle prior to the collision.”

The chase continued for several more miles before ending on Highway 211 when a pursuing deputy used an immobilization technique to force the car off the road.

McFadden says the car was reported stolen from Ocala and officers found approximately $1,400 worth of marijuana within the vehicle.

Crawford and two passengers, Anthony Battle of Ocala and 30-year old Jason Ricotta of Daytona Beach, were arrested.

In addition to aggravated assault, Crawford is charged with theft by receiving stolen property, fleeing or attempting to elude, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and weaving over roadway.

Ricotta and Battle are charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.