Latest news with #SebringRegionalAirport
New York Post
23-04-2025
- New York Post
Florida man offers police booze during car chase: ‘Don't know if he was expecting us to just say ‘cheers'
Advertisement Don't drink and drive. A Florida man casually offered pursuing deputies a vodka spritzer in the middle of a car chase after he allegedly stole several items from a convenience store, authorities said. Deputies with the Highlands County Sheriff's Office responded to the Spring Lake Market on Saturday after Richard Christopher Smith, 39, allegedly took items from a market, including several alcoholic beverages, and walked out. When the deputies arrived, Smith fled in a vehicle, prompting a pursuit, the sheriff's office said. Advertisement 'It was during this pursuit when Smith held a can of Ketel One vodka spritz out the window as he drove by a deputy trying to get him to stop, telling the deputy 'I was just going to give you a drink, that's it' as he passed,' the sheriff's office said. 3 Richard Christopher Smith allegedly offered officers a vodka spritzer in the middle of a car chase. Highlands County Sheriff's Office 'We don't know if he was expecting us to just say 'Cheers!' and let him go, or what.' The chase ended a few minutes later in the parking lot of a business at the Sebring Regional Airport. Advertisement After his toast, Smith, who is a Miami resident, tried to ram two patrol vehicles as all four of his tires were flattened by spike strips, police said. 3 Smith is seen being tased by an officer after the chase. Highlands County Sheriff's Office 3 Smith is charged with two counts of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, battery on a law enforcement officer, two counts of resisting arrest, DUI, refusal to submit to a DUI test and petit theft. Highlands County Sheriff's Office He was unfazed as he calmly tried to walk away from the scene – which was surrounded by deputies – while puffing on a cigarette, authorities said. Advertisement 'You guys had fun, though, right?' he asked them. He was eventually Tased in the middle of his smoke break and arrested. Smith is charged with two counts of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, battery on a law enforcement officer, two counts of resisting arrest, DUI, refusal to submit to a DUI test and petit theft. His bond was set at $120,000.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Yahoo
Florida man offers police booze during car chase: 'Don't know if he was expecting us to just say ‘cheers''
Don't drink and drive. A Florida man casually offered pursuing deputies a vodka spritzer in the middle of a car chase after he allegedly stole several items from a convenience store, authorities said. Deputies with the Highlands County Sheriff's Office responded to the Spring Lake Market on Saturday after Richard Christopher Smith, 39, allegedly took items from a market, including several alcoholic beverages, and walked out. Florida Woman Poses As Ice Agent To Kidnap Wife Of Ex-boyfriend From Work, Authorities Say When the deputies arrived, Smith fled in a vehicle, prompting a pursuit, the sheriff's office said. "It was during this pursuit when Smith held a can of Ketel One vodka spritz out the window as he drove by a deputy trying to get him to stop, telling the deputy 'I was just going to give you a drink, that's it' as he passed," the sheriff's office said. "We don't know if he was expecting us to just say 'Cheers!' and let him go, or what." Read On The Fox News App The chase ended a few minutes later in the parking lot of a business at the Sebring Regional Airport. Investigators Reveal New Details On Fsu Shooting After his toast, Smith, who is a Miami resident, tried to ram two patrol vehicles as all four of his tires were flattened by spike strips, police said. He was unfazed as he calmly tried to walk away from the scene – which was surrounded by deputies – while puffing on a cigarette, authorities said. "You guys had fun, though, right?" he asked them. He was eventually Tased in the middle of his smoke break and arrested. Smith is charged with two counts of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, battery on a law enforcement officer, two counts of resisting arrest, DUI, refusal to submit to a DUI test and petit theft. His bond was set at $120, article source: Florida man offers police booze during car chase: 'Don't know if he was expecting us to just say 'cheers''
Fox News
23-04-2025
- Fox News
Florida man offers police booze during car chase: 'Don't know if he was expecting us to just say ‘cheers''
Don't drink and drive. A Florida man casually offered pursuing deputies a vodka spritzer in the middle of a car chase after he allegedly stole several items from a convenience store, authorities said. Deputies with the Highlands County Sheriff's Office responded to the Spring Lake Market on Saturday after Richard Christopher Smith, 39, allegedly took items from a market, including several alcoholic beverages, and walked out. When the deputies arrived, Smith fled in a vehicle, prompting a pursuit, the sheriff's office said. "It was during this pursuit when Smith held a can of Ketel One vodka spritz out the window as he drove by a deputy trying to get him to stop, telling the deputy 'I was just going to give you a drink, that's it' as he passed," the sheriff's office said. "We don't know if he was expecting us to just say 'Cheers!' and let him go, or what." The chase ended a few minutes later in the parking lot of a business at the Sebring Regional Airport. After his toast, Smith, who is a Miami resident, tried to ram two patrol vehicles as all four of his tires were flattened by spike strips, police said. He was unfazed as he calmly tried to walk away from the scene – which was surrounded by deputies – while puffing on a cigarette, authorities said. "You guys had fun, though, right?" he asked them. He was eventually Tased in the middle of his smoke break and arrested. Smith is charged with two counts of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, battery on a law enforcement officer, two counts of resisting arrest, DUI, refusal to submit to a DUI test and petit theft. His bond was set at $120,000.
Miami Herald
22-04-2025
- Miami Herald
DUI suspect slows during police chase to offer deputy a cocktail, FL video shows
A DUI suspect trying to outrun the cops slowed his van at one point — to offer a cocktail out the window for one of his pursuers, Florida body camera video shows. It's happened just after 3 p.m. Saturday, April 19, as that deputy was manning a road block in Sebring, the Highlands County Sheriff's Office says. The driver escaped the scene, only to crash 'several miles' away near the Sebring Regional Airport, officials said. He then asked if the arresting deputies 'had fun' chasing him, video shows. 'Strange things happen all the time when you're in law enforcement. This one, however, might make the books,' the sheriff's office wrote in an April 21 Facebook post. 'We would be very interested to hear from anyone else who has been offered a vodka spritzer by their suspect in the middle of a vehicle pursuit. Or that the same suspect calmly tried to walk away from a crash, puffing on a cigarette, despite being surrounded by deputies. 'Or (yes, it keeps going) that the same suspect asked why he was being arrested and commented to the deputies 'You guys had fun, though, right?'' the sheriff's office said. The driver was stopped only after being hit with a stun gun, knocking him to the pavement, video shows. Investigators say the chase was initiated after Richard Christopher Smith, 39, took 'several items, including several alcoholic beverages' from a store in Sebring, officials said. 'It reported that the man was in a black minivan, driving circles around the store,' the sheriff's office said. 'When deputies arrived, Smith sped off ... It was during this pursuit when Smith held a can of Ketel One vodka spritz out the window as he drove by a deputy trying to get him to stop, telling the deputy 'I was just going to give you a drink, that's it' as he passed.' Spike strips were used to flatten his van's tires after officials said he tried 'to ram two patrol vehicles.' Video shows his van crashed into an SUV during the pursuit, but details of the collision were not released. Smith, who lives in Miami, was arrested and charged with: Two counts of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officerBattery on a law enforcement officerTwo counts of resisting arrestDUIRefusal to submit to a DUI testPetit theft Sebring is about a 95-mile drive southeast from Tampa.
