TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - A man who led authorities on a high-speed chase and charged his car at a Florida Patrol trooper received a 180-day sentence.
David Moreland of Lantana, Florida was sentenced Wednesday in the Leon County Circuit Court.
With a ten-day credit for time served, he is to serve his sentence in the Leon County Detention Center.
LEON COUNTY, Fla. (WTXL) - The man accused of leading authorities on a high-speed chase and nearly hitting a Florida Highway Patrol trooper in the process is now being charged with assault on an officer.
Captain Bagnardi was doing a traffic stop Wednesday at 6:05 p.m. in Leon County on I-10 at mile marker 212 when attempted to stop a second car, a Nissan Altima driven by David Moreland, 30, of Lantana, FL.
Troopers write that Moreland reluctantly pulled his car over, in between the first stopped car and the trooper's unmarked car.
When Bagnardi tried to approach Moreland's car from the front, Moreland's car began to move forward with its engine revving.
It was a close call for the trooper, as he jumped out of the way to avoid getting hit.
Bagnardi pursued the Altima, which traveled off the road to pass vehicles in front of it. Trooper Suchocki, who was in Leon County at the time, traveled onto the interstate and pursued the Nissan.
They say they were going between 110 and 115 mph all the way to the Gadsden County line.
Another trooper, Barrow, was waiting in the median on the interstate in Gadsden County. Barrow then traveled onto the interstate as the pursuit passed him and caught up to Suchocki and Bagnardi.
A few miles after passing Barrow, Moreland lost control of the vehicle, which crashed into a guardrail, causing the front tire to separate from the vehicle.
Troopers say Moreland tried to keep driving the car, but the Nissan was disabled and came to a stop on the shoulder of the interstate.
The three occupants were removed as the vehicle began to smoke. The vehicle eventually caught fire and Gadsden County Fire Rescue arrived to extinguish it.
Moreland was arrested on scene. He is charged with assault on an officer, fleeing police with disregard of safety to people or property, and reckless driving.
He remains in the Leon County Jail on a $20,250 bond.
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