News

Actions

Florida man leads low-speed chase on stolen forklift, deputies say

Posted
and last updated

(RNN) - A low-speed chase landed a Florida man in jail on Sunday.

According to WOKV, Clay County Sheriff’s deputies say 22-year-old Nicolas Powell stole a forklift from Sunbelt Rentals shortly after midnight on Sunday.

Someone called deputies around 12:45 a.m. to report a man, who “didn’t look like a construction worker,” driving a forklift. The caller also referred to his driving as "erratic."

Deputies witnessed this first hand when they spotted him swerving across lanes of traffic. Authorities began a lukewarm pursuit, but their sirens and lights weren’t enough to convince the suspect to pull over.

He led them on a chase that spilled over into Duval County. It came to an end when he pulled into a grass lot at a gas station east of Interstate 295.

According to WJAX, Powell refused to take a field sobriety test at the scene. He had also been driving with a license that had been suspended for more than three years.

Now, Powell is in the Clay County Jail with bonds totaling $29,010. He’s scheduled to appear in court on Aug. 22 to face charges that include grand theft, DUI, trespassing and driving with a suspended license.

WJXT reported Powell listed Wilkinson Jr. High School as his employer. However, the Clay County School District told them there is no record of Powell’s employment.

Copyright 2018 Raycom News Network. All rights reserved.