A dramatic high-speed chase ended in the arrest of a 36-year-old man after a near collision with a K-9 deputy’s vehicle on the busy Interstate 95. The suspect, identified as Bryant Smith, was apprehended by law enforcement authorities after a harrowing pursuit that spanned multiple jurisdictions.
The incident unfolded when a Volusia County Sheriff’s Office (VCSO) deputy was driving along Interstate 95. Suddenly, a blue Ford Fusion, driven by Smith, merged dangerously into the deputy’s lane, prompting the officer to swerve off the road to avoid a collision. In response, the VCSO deputy activated his lights and sirens to signal Smith, who had allegedly forced him off the road.
However, instead of yielding, Smith accelerated and cut through multiple lanes of traffic, reaching speeds exceeding 100 mph. The deputy promptly alerted nearby law enforcement agencies, providing a description of the fleeing Ford Fusion. Moments later, officers from the Edgewater Police Department (EPD) spotted the vehicle being driven recklessly.
Smith’s attempt to escape took a dangerous turn when he ran a red light, hopped a median, and narrowly avoided a collision with a K-9 deputy’s patrol car while driving over stop sticks. Despite his vehicle’s tires being punctured, Smith continued driving for a short distance before finally pulling over to the shoulder of the road. At this point, he abruptly abandoned his passenger, 32-year-old Kenya King, and fled on foot.
The pursuit continued as a VCSO deputy and his K-9 partner, Toki, began tracking Smith through a wooded area alongside the interstate. Repeated warnings were issued for Smith to surrender, with deputies threatening to unleash the K-9 if he did not comply. Eventually, K-9 Toki latched onto Smith’s ankle, bringing the chaotic chase to a dramatic end.
Upon his arrest, Smith maintained his defiance, reportedly claiming that he hadn’t heard the canine warnings and refusing to acknowledge his role in the events. He was later handcuffed and treated for a dog bite before being transported to the Volusia County Jail.
Smith now faces a series of charges from both the Edgewater Police Department and the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, including felony fleeing from police, resisting an officer without violence, failing to drive in a single lane, and fleeing at a high rate of speed. Additionally, Smith has a history of prior charges, including drug trafficking and possession of narcotic paraphernalia.