What started as a simple traffic stop on a quiet stretch of highway turned into one of the most chaotic scenes officers say they’ve ever witnessed.
It began when a state trooper pulled over a gray sedan for speeding just outside of town. The driver, a man in his late 20s, initially complied — slowing down and pulling onto the shoulder. The officer approached calmly, expecting a standard license-and-registration interaction.
But the moment the trooper reached the window, things changed instantly. The man appeared visibly nervous, his hands shaking on the wheel. As the officer began asking questions, the suspect suddenly slammed the car into drive — tires screeching, gravel flying everywhere.
Dashcam footage shows the trooper sprinting back to his vehicle as the car speeds off, weaving through traffic at over 100 miles per hour. What followed was a high-speed pursuit through winding backroads and residential neighborhoods.
At one point, the driver nearly collided with a school bus, sending officers scrambling to block intersections ahead. Dispatchers coordinated with multiple departments as the suspect led them on a 20-minute chase — before finally losing control and crashing into a ditch.
When officers approached the wrecked vehicle, they discovered the reason behind his panic — the car was packed with stolen electronics, counterfeit IDs, and a loaded firearm.
Thankfully, no one was seriously injured, but authorities say the outcome could have been far worse.
Sheriff Daniels later said:
“This just shows how fast a routine stop can escalate. One second you’re talking to a driver — the next, you’re in a full-blown pursuit.”
The suspect is now in custody facing multiple felony charges, including fleeing law enforcement, reckless endangerment, and possession of illegal weapons.