A 24-year-old man is facing charges after deputies say he stole several bottles of liquor from a Publix in Martin County, then sped off at more than 80 mph, running red lights and nearly hitting other vehicles before he was tracked down in Palm Beach County. Derwyn Don Edwards was booked into the Martin County Jail on September 10, according to jail records, following a chase that stretched across county lines and drew in a sheriff's helicopter.
Theft at a Publix Liquor Store Sparks the Chase
According to the NBC 6 South Florida report, the incident began when a retailer notified deputies that Edwards had stolen bottles of liquor. The Martin County Sheriff's Office said the theft happened at the Publix liquor store located at 6805 SE Federal Highway, according to CBS12. A deputy later located Edwards' vehicle near SE Dominica Terrace and Federal Highway and attempted a traffic stop, but authorities said he failed to stop.
From there, the situation escalated quickly. Edwards allegedly drove in a reckless manner, at times exceeding 80 mph, running red lights and endangering the public as he headed south on Interstate 95, per the same account. His vehicle reportedly came close to hitting other motorists along the way.
Deputies Call Off Ground Pursuit, Helicopter Takes Over
Rather than continue a high-speed ground chase, the deputy turned off emergency lights and siren and disengaged because the incident did not meet the agency's pursuit-policy criteria, the report notes. Instead, the Martin County Sheriff's Office's Air 1 helicopter followed Edwards from high above, guiding deputies as he entered Palm Beach County without any vehicles pursuing him on the ground.
The aerial tracking allowed deputies to keep tabs on Edwards without escalating the danger to other drivers. Eventually, Edwards parked his vehicle and tried to hide, the same source states. Deputies in unmarked vehicles arrived at the scene in Palm Beach County and took him into custody, with the Florida Highway Patrol assisting in the arrest.
Conflicting Charge Descriptions in Booking Records
Exactly how Edwards' charges are described depends on which record you consult. The CBS12 report states that Edwards was charged with reckless fleeing and eluding and petit theft and was being held at the Martin County Jail. A separate booking listing reviewed on recentlybooked.com, however, describes the charges as first-degree petit theft involving property valued at $100 or more but less than $750, along with aggravated fleeing with injury or damage. That same booking record lists Edwards as having been booked on September 10, 2026.
Under Florida law, theft of property that does not fall into higher-value categories is classified as petit theft, according to Florida Senate statute Section 812.014. The booking record notes that arrest information does not imply guilt or conviction, and no court appearance, plea, or case-disposition information has been made available.
Additional footage of the incident, showing the erratic driving and Edwards parking his vehicle and trying to hide, was reported by NBC 6 South Florida. No attorney statement or comment from Edwards has been made public as of publication.
