Chaos erupted at St. Augustine Premium Outlets earlier this month when a citizen alerted the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office to a suspicious individual demonstrating erratic behavior. A deputy dispatched to the scene engaged in a pursuit after locating the individual driving in a reckless manner within the mall area, according to the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office.
The suspect, identified as William Middleton, 27, reportedly drove the wrong way, failed to maintain his lane, and discarded trash from his vehicle window. Upon attempting a traffic stop, deputies witnessed Middleton make obscene gestures and engage in dangerous driving that included speeding and near-miss head-on collisions on State Road 16.
In an effort to halt Middleton's hazardous flight, deputies effectively deployed stop sticks to deflate the vehicle's right tires and executed a PIT maneuver to bring the vehicle to a stop. In the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office statement, they detailed that Middleton faced multiple charges following his arrest: DUI, reckless driving, fleeing and eluding, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
The St. Johns County Sheriff's Office has been transparent about the incident, providing a social media post that outlines the sequence of events leading to Middleton's capture and arrest. This announcement, made public today, gave insight into the sharp response and tactical approach of the deputies involved in the incident, ensuring the safety of other drivers and swiftly subduing the threat presented by one man's contempt for the law, and the basic tenets of road safety.
