MADISON COUNTY, Fla. (WTXL) - A husband and wife have been arrested after deputies say the husband sped off, leaving his wife, and lead deputies on chase all while throwing bags of cocaine and money out the window.
The Madison County Sheriff’s Office said that on Tuesday around 10 p.m., they pulled over a truck going west on I-10 for a traffic violation.
When they talked to the people inside, identified as Antoine and Melanie Drinks, deputies noticed an odor of weed coming from the car. The deputy also noticed that Antoine was smoking a cigar and blowing the smoke all over, likely in an attempt to mask the odor.
When Melanie was told to get out the truck, she told them that her and her husband were originally going to Madison, but had changed their destination to Tallahassee.
Deputies said that Melanie was told that the car would be searched for probable cause. When Antoine was asked to get out the truck, however, he refused, hopped in the driver's seat, and took off, leaving his wife standing in a ditch.
At this point, a chase began, speeds reaching 105 miles per hour, according to deputies. They said that Antoine began weaving in and out of traffic while throwing cocaine and money out of the truck window.
At some point, deputies were able to force him off the road, but not for long as Antoine again started to flee, hitting a deputy in the leg.
MCSO said that the chase started up once again, continuing westbound. They said that Antoine continued throwing bags of cocaine out the window as well.
They said that he also tried to hit several pursing deputies as well.
Eventually, the chase came to a stop when deputies pinned all sides of the truck. They had to forcefully remove Antoine and transported him to the Madison County Emergency Room before he was taken to jail.
When deputies searched the truck, they found cocaine, crack, weed, pills and money throughout the truck. Further investigation revealed that Antoine was currently on parole as a conditional release violator.
Both husband and wife were arrested and face the following charges:
Antoine Deanard Drinks
1. Aggravated Battery on Law Enforcement
2. Aggravated Fleeing Resulting in Property Damage
3. Possess Cocaine with Intent to Sell
4. Possess Crack Cocaine with Intent to Sell
5. Unlawful Distribute Schedule II (Oxymorphone)
6. Possess Marijuana with Intent to Sell
7. Possess Drug Paraphernalia / Equipment
8. Arrest Warrant – Violation of Parole – Absconder
Melanie Michelle Drinks
1. Possess Cocaine with Intent to Sell
2. Possess Crack Cocaine with Intent to Sell
3. Unlawful Distribute Schedule II (Oxymorphone)
4. Unlawful Distribute Schedule II (Hydrocodone)
5. Possess Schedule IV (Tramadol)
6. Possess Schedule IV (Alprazolam)
7. Possess without Prescription (Cyclobenzaprine)
8. Possess Drug Paraphernalia / Equipment
in the area of the 2900 block of Jim Lee Road in Tallahassee.
