10/26/24 Marion County, FL – Suspicious Activity Call – Suspect Stole The Deputy’s Marked Patrol Car – Police Chase – PIT Maneuver – Suspect Arrested

October 26, 2024

www.ocalagazette.com

UPDATED POST:

The 41-year-old Ocala man charged with stealing a Marion County Sheriff’s Office patrol vehicle with an MCSO issued rifle inside on Oct. 26 reportedly told officers they’d better have their car doors locked because he’s known for stealing cars, according to an arrest affidavit.

James M. Brady, 41, of Ocala was arrested and charged with fleeing and eluding police and failing to obey a law enforcement order to stop, grand theft of a motor vehicle, aggravated battery on an officer, firefighter or EMT and armed burglary of a structure of conveyance, according to Marion County Jail records. The jail records do not indicate any bond amount.

The arrest affidavit states the incident unfolded as two deputies responded to a location in the 1500 block of Southeast 59th Street and contacted Brady, who said he “needed assistance” and asked for medical attention because he had “taken drugs” and was concerned he would be taken to jail.

One of the deputies told Brady he would not be jailed but Brady asked for two medical personnel to respond and then remarked “you better have your doors locked. I like to steal cars. Just ask your boss about that,” the arrest affidavit states.

The arrest affidavit indicates Brady made an outburst and then ran to one of the patrol vehicles and got inside fled, with the other deputy in pursuit with lights and siren activated.

The arrest affidavit indicates a deputy confirmed an “agency issued rifle was in the vehicle alongside the driver’s seat” but “no other weapons were accessible.”

A chase initially took place in a field and a PIT (immobilization) maneuver was attempted as another MCSO vehicle joined the pursuit but Brady made his way out of the field and headed east on Southeast 52nd Street to South Pine Avenue, the arrest affidavit stated.

The pursuit continued north on Pine Avenue to the vicinity of the Ocala Police Department, where Brady made a U-turn and traveled to Southwest 10th Street, where he turned in a west direction, the affidavit indicated.

Brady traveled west on Southwest 10th Street and when a deputy tried a PIT maneuver, he “rapidly decelerated” and turned into the deputy’s vehicle, according to the arrest affidavit.

A deputy “performed a successful PIT maneuver” at the intersection of Southwest 10th Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue and Brady got out of the vehicle and was arrested and transported to jail, the affidavit indicated.

INITIAL POST:

A 41-year-old man, identified as James Brady, was arrested Saturday evening after allegedly stealing a deputy’s patrol vehicle and leading authorities on a pursuit into the City of Ocala.

Deputies initially responded to a call reporting suspicious activity in the 1500 block of SE 59th Street around 5:45 p.m. When they arrived, they made contact with Brady, who, through unknown circumstances, gained access to the deputy’s patrol car. Brady then took control of the vehicle and fled the scene.

The chase continued along Highway 200 and Martin Luther King Blvd., where deputies employed a PIT (Precision Immobilization Technique) maneuver to halt the stolen vehicle. The tactic, widely taught in law enforcement, involves an officer’s bumper contacting the suspect’s vehicle, causing it to spin and come to a stop. The maneuver was successful, and no injuries were reported.

The stolen vehicle was stopped at the northwest corner of the intersection of SR 200 and Martin Luther King, Jr.  Boulevard. After the apprehension, an attendant at the Shell market on that same corner said customers came in the market to tell her about the activity outside.

Brady was taken into custody without further incident and booked at the Marion County Jail.