CHARLOTTE COUNTY – A stop for a missing taillight, turns into a drug bust, and ends in a crash.
Shortly before 1:30 Thursday morning, Charlotte deputies pulled over a car in the area of Tamiami Trail and Adalia Terrace.
“The driver was contacted and provided a false name to deputies during the subsequent investigation they identified him as Glen Alonzo Steele,” said Sheriff Bill Prummell of the Charlotte County Sheriffs Office.
Steele reportedly had a warrant for driving while his license was suspended. When deputies searched the car they found cocaine, methamphetamine, and pills. That’s when things escalated…fast.
“When the deputy ensued the suspect, he was in that vehicle as the suspect was able to get ahold of the ignition and the gas pedal, ultimately dragging that deputy, he was thrown from the vehicle and sustained minor injuries,” said Charlotte County Sheriffs Office PIO, Claudette Bennett.
Steele took off and headed towards North Port.
“He ended up crashing through a wooded area, flipping his car several times and landed on the roof and he sustained some head injuries and he was transported to the local hospital as well,” said Bennett.
The Sheriff’s Office says Steele was arrested. Corporal Brad Combs, was also hurt, but he is now doing okay.
“We always say that there is no such thing as a routine traffic stop, and this is a prime example of why, the deputy was pulling this vehicle over for as simple as a faulty tail light, that’s a safety issue, it ended more serious than expected, and luckily are deputies are safe they’re fine and they’re going to go home to their families,” said Bennett.
According to the Sheriffs Office, Steele has a violent history out of Pennsylvania. He was arrested last year in Charlotte County for driving with a suspended license.
Steele has been released from the hospital with minor injuries and booked into the Sarasota County Jail. He will remain there until he is transported to Charlotte County Jail on the following charges.
Possession of a controlled substance (Methamphetamine), Possession of a controlled substance (Cocaine), Possession, a controlled substance (Clonazepam), Possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia, Battery on law enforcement officer x2, Fleeing to elude law enforcement officer with wanton disregard for the safety of persons and property, Driving while license suspended, revoked, canceled, or disqualified, False ID given to LEO, and Leaving the scene of a crash.
