Intense High Speed Sheriff Pursuit Ends With PIT Maneuver in Marion County, Florida

Micanopy, Florida — Deputy Shon McGuigan was monitoring traffic in the area of I-75 and County Road 234 in Micanopy when he observed a gold Chevy Suburban plow through the stop sign coming off the interstate turning right onto County Road 234. The vehicle struck a curb and drove into the oncoming lane of traffic on County Road 234, and then began fleeing from Deputy McGuigan when he activated his lights and siren. The route of the pursuit began in the parking lot of Café Risque, turned onto County Road 234, where the suspect threw a Terrapin Cryosphere alcoholic beverage out the window. The suspect turned southbound on 441, first driving southbound in the northbound lanes before transitioning back to the correct side of the road.

He reached speeds of 100 miles per hour in a construction zone all while giving Deputy McGuigan the middle finger. Deputy McGuigan first tried to PIT Richardson’s vehicle several times when the suspect’s speeds were lower and did finally execute a PIT maneuver, causing Richardson to spin out in the median, but Richardson was able drive away, heading back northbound on 441, intentionally ramming Deputy McGuigan’s vehicle at least twice. Deputy Dasher deployed stop sticks unsuccessfully, and other law enforcement joined the pursuit, including FHP, Deputy Bryan Jones and Deputy Jasper Stephenson. The pursuit continued onto Cholokka Boulevard in Micanopy and finally back southbound on 441. Deputy Stephenson was finally able to initiate another PIT maneuver which was successful.

Deputy McGuigan made contact with the vehicle, and Richardson again, tried to drive away, but FHP and deputies Jones and Stephenson all pinned the vehicle in and apprehended Mr. Richardson without incident. Further investigation revealed that Richardson was a suspect in an identical incident in Marion County earlier in the day involving the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and FHP. Also, Mr. Richardson is on probation in Citrus County for DUI and Fleeing and Eluding Law Enforcement. His license had previously been revoked. He is charged with Fleeing and Eluding Law Enforcement, Aggravated Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer, Driving While License Suspended/Revoked, Reckless Driving and Citrus County has also advised they will be filing a violation of probation charges.