A pre-dawn, triple-digit chase up the Florida Keys left one Monroe County sheriff's deputy in the hospital and a 25-year-old driver in handcuffs early Wednesday, after a Honda SUV slammed into a boulder at the end of 39th Street in Marathon. Investigators say the pursuit hit roughly 120 mph before it finally ended. The deputy injured her hand while putting down tire spikes and was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital with injuries described as not life threatening. The driver, identified as Aaron Scout Tipsword, was arrested at the scene.
According to the Tampa Free Press, deputies first spotted the Honda near Mile Marker 30 on Big Pine Key around 5:30 a.m. The outlet reports Tipsword appeared disoriented, wearing a heavy jacket and gloves despite the warm weather and struggling to get words out, then refused to hand over his driver's license. Instead, he allegedly hit the gas and headed north, with deputies deploying spike strips multiple times and saying they punctured the SUV's tires as the chase rolled through the Keys.
How the chase fits a familiar pattern in the Keys
High speed drama on U.S. 1 is not exactly new in the Keys. In January, deputies said a fleeing driver whose tires had been taken out by spike strips jumped straight into the ocean in a failed bid to escape, according to the Miami Herald. Under Florida law, fleeing and eluding and DUI that cause serious bodily injury are felonies, and aggravated fleeing that results in serious injury or death can mean mandatory prison time under Florida Statutes section 316.1935, per the Florida Senate.
Charges and initial response
The Tampa Free Press reports Tipsword now faces a stack of charges, including DUI causing serious bodily injury, fleeing and eluding, resisting arrest, dangerous and excessive speeding, criminal mischief with property damage, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. The outlet also notes deputies had contact with him the night before, after a relative requested a welfare check, but he did not meet the criteria for involuntary mental health detention under the Baker Act at that time.
What’s next
Tipsword is being held in the county jail while investigators and prosecutors sort through the case and decide on formal charges in court. If the case moves forward, DUI causing serious bodily injury is a felony and aggravated fleeing with serious injury can bring significant prison time under Florida Statutes section 316.193, as outlined by Justia, and section 316.1935, per the Florida Senate.
