A Volusia County judge sentenced Ormond Beach resident Scott Knowlton, 32, to 45 years in prison Monday, closing out a case that began when a sheriff's deputy happened to witness him dragging his girlfriend down an Atlantic Avenue sidewalk and chasing her through traffic.
According to sao7.com, the hearing took place before Circuit Judge Leah Case, where Knowlton's 45-year sentence was handed down. The case traces back to an incident along Atlantic Avenue in Daytona Beach, where Volusia Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Brian Henderson happened to see Knowlton chasing, grabbing, and pulling a woman with him, according to the News-Journal. Henderson commanded Knowlton to stop, but he instead took off running toward the Ocean Center, dropping a backpack that held a firearm, fentanyl and drug paraphernalia as he fled.
A Deputy's Chance Encounter Turned Takedown
The woman was treated at the scene for her injuries, per the same account. Earlier footage reportedly appeared to show Knowlton punching her in the back of the head during the altercation. Henderson told reporters Knowlton was “assaulting and dragging his girlfriend in the street,” and said afterward that Knowlton was sentenced to prison “where he cannot hurt anyone else.”
Knowlton evaded law enforcement that day, but investigators identified him as a suspect and secured an arrest warrant. He remained at large for roughly two months until he was located and arrested in Ormond Beach on Nov. 13, 2025, and booked into the Volusia County Branch Jail two days later. The station's report notes Knowlton was arrested at a home in the 1100 block of Avenue G near Ormond Beach after an anonymous tip, as detailed by ClickOrlando. That tipster was set to receive a $1,000 reward for the information that helped deputies find him.
A Long List of Charges Tied to the Street Chase
Knowlton faced charges including kidnapping with bodily harm, fentanyl trafficking, drug paraphernalia possession, resisting an officer without violence, obstructing an officer without violence, and possession of a weapon by an in-state felon. The fentanyl trafficking charge specifically involved 28 grams or more, according to the News-Journal. He was also charged with several counts of violation of probation, stemming from his status at the time of the arrest.
WFLA separately reported that Knowlton's charges included kidnapping, battery, trafficking in fentanyl, resisting, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, tampering with evidence, possession of paraphernalia and violation of probation, according to WFLA. The November incident was not an isolated brush with law enforcement. Months earlier, in August 2025, Knowlton ran away from a Holly Hill police officer and dropped a backpack containing fentanyl and drug paraphernalia, according to News Daytona Beach.
A Record Built on Prior Convictions
Knowlton had been placed on probation following a 2023 conviction that included fentanyl trafficking, possession of methamphetamine and cocaine with intent to sell, and grand theft of a motor vehicle, per News Daytona Beach. The News-Journal additionally reported that court records linked Knowlton to a no-contest plea on drug-trafficking and grand-theft-auto charges stemming from a 2022 arrest. This July, Knowlton conceded to 14 violations of probation, according to News Daytona Beach.
State Attorney R.J. Larizza, per that outlet, called Knowlton irredeemable. Knowlton still has pending Volusia County charges related to domestic violence and drug investigations, according to the same report.
