Photos Courtesy Of R&R Event Pros
Officers from the Madison County Sheriff's Office secure the vehicle that was driven by Samuel Marcelin. Marcelin crashed the red Toyota into the treeline, and began to flee on foot. Four hours later, Marcelin was apprehended through the joint teamwork of six different law enforcement agencies. Pictured, from left to right, are: Lt. Randy Jansch, Lt. Doug Haskell, and Sgt. Jarrod Lauth.
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Madison County Sheriff Ben Stewart reports that during the afternoon of Thursday, Sept. 22, at approximately 4 p.m., Madison County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Odell Livingston observed a red Toyota Camry traveling at a high rate of speed on I-10. The red Toyota was traveling in a western direction as Sgt. Livingston confirmed his observations by utilizing his radar to determine the exact speed to be 128 mph.
Sgt. Livingston immediately began pursuit of the red Toyota and activated his unit's blue lights and siren. The driver stopped the vehicle in the middle of I-10 in heavy traffic and before Sgt. Livingston could direct the driver to move the vehicle to the shoulder, the driver sped off and continued to travel west.
Sgt. Livingston managed to position his patrol unit in front of the suspect vehicle in an attempt to get the red Toyota stopped but the pursuit continued after the driver crossed the median, and began to travel in an easterly direction.
The driver displayed erratic driving behaviors at high rates of speed while passing motorist in the emergency lanes and eventually exiting from I-10 at exit 262. He then began to travel south on County Road 255.
The driver finally lost control of the red Toyota, striking a pine tree and abandoned his car as he continued to flee on foot into a wooded area. Sgt. Livingston secured the vehicle and awaited assistance from responding back-up patrol and K9 units to track the suspect.
Upon arrival of responding back-up units, a perimeter of the area that the suspect had fled into was established as K9 units began to track the suspect. Additional K9 units from Madison and Mayo Correctional Institutions responded to assist in the tracking of the suspect.
The suspect was tracked into a several hundred acre corn field. Units from the Florida Highway Patrol and Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission responded to assist with the apprehension of the suspect.
The assistance of the Leon County Sheriff’s Office Helicopter Unit was requested and responded as the perimeter was maintained. Upon arrival of the helicopter unit, the suspect was quickly located and taken into custody before he was transported to the Madison County Jail. The suspect was positively identified as Samuel Marcelin, 21, of Delray Beach, Fl., and the vehicle was discovered to have been stolen from Delray Beach with an improper tag.
A total of six different agencies, spanning over a four hour search period, participated in the apprehension of this criminal and Sheriff Stewart applauds the relationships and cooperation of such resources working together as a unified group of law enforcement officers.
Marcelin is facing charges of reckless driving, fleeing/attempting to elude, and driving while license suspended. Charges of grand theft auto are also pending.