Chris Jones: Greene Publishing, Inc.
If you were driving on Interstate 10 on Tuesday, Jan. 31 around 10 p.m., you may have thought you were on the set of a Hollywood movie, with cocaine and money being thrown from vehicles speeding down the highway at over 100 miles per hour. According to Madison County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) Major David Harper, the dangerous and intense situation began with a simple traffic stop.
Sgt. Brandon Goldman of the MCSO's Interstate Criminal Enforcement (ICE) Team stopped a red Ford F-150 for a traffic violation. The truck was traveling westbound on Interstate 10. The driver, later identified as Melanie Drinks of Jacksonville, Fl., was asked to exit the vehicle after Sgt. Goldman detected the odor of marijuana radiating from the truck. Sgt. Mike Maurice responded to assist, as the odor was probable cause for a search. When the passenger, later identified to be the driver's husband, Antoine Drinks, also from Jacksonville, was asked to exit the vehicle, he climbed over the center console, put the vehicle in gear, and fled the scene, leaving his wife in the ditch.
Sgts. Goldman and Maurice initiated pursuit of the truck and called for additional units, both to assist the chase and retrieve Mrs. Drinks from the roadside. Lt. Randy Jansch arrived moments later and apprehended Mrs. Drinks. Speeds quickly exceeded 100 miles per hour as the pursuit raced westbound on I-10. Mr. Drinks, driving the red F-150, began to drive recklessly, weaving in and out of traffic and throwing cocaine and money out the window of the truck. Sgt. Goldman feared for the safety of other motorists and successfully forced the truck into the grassy median, near mile marker 247. Sgts. Maurice and Goldman exited their patrol vehicles and approached the truck, attempting to apprehend Mr. Drinks. The two were forced to quickly return to their patrol vehicles, however, as Drinks fled again in the truck, striking Sgt. Maurice in the process, which led to an injury to his right leg.
As the high speeds resumed and the pursuit continued, additional units from the MCSO and the Florida Highway Patrol joined in the pursuit. Drinks, still throwing drugs and money out the truck's window, attempted to ram the pursuit vehicles. At one point in the chase, Drinks exited the Interstate at exit 241, made the loop to change directions, and re-entered the highway in the eastbound lane, in the direction from which he had come. Sixteen miles later, near mile marker 257, Major Harper authorized a Pursuit Intervention Technique (PIT) maneuver to stop the truck, using any force necessary. Sgt. Goldman successfully executed the maneuver and caused the truck to spin out of control. The temporary loss of control provided an opportunity for Sgt. Goldman, Sgt. Maurice, Sgt. Jarrod Lauth, Sgt. Maurice Alexander, and Captain Chris Andrews to pin the truck on all sides with their patrol vehicles, bringing the dangerous pursuit to an end.
Remaining consistent with his dangerous behavior and criminal activity, Drinks refused all commands and was forcefully removed from the truck and placed under arrest. Several deputies received minor cuts from broken glass during the extraction of Drinks from the truck. Drinks complained of back and neck pains and was transported to Madison County Memorial Hospital, cleared by staff, and transported to the Madison County Jail. The injured deputies were also treated.
The resulting search of Drinks’ vehicle produced cocaine, crack cocaine, marijuana, pills, and loose currency. At the time of the pursuit, Mr. Drinks was on parole, had absconded supervision, and had a warrant for his arrest as well. The investigation also discovered that Mrs. Drinks was
directly involved with the drugs, leading to her arrest. Afterward, deputies were able to recover a portion of the cocaine, marijuana and currency that was thrown from the truck during the pursuit.
Combined Charges:
1. Aggravated battery on law enforcement
2. Aggravated fleeing resulting in property damage
3. Possession of cocaine with intent to sell
4. Possession of crack cocaine with intent to sell
5. Possession of marijuana with intent to sell
6. Possession of drug paraphernalia
7. Unlawful distribution of Schedule II Oxymorphone
8. Unlawful distribution of Schedule II Hydrocodone
9. Possession of Schedule IV Tramadol
10. Possession of Schedule IV Alprazolam
11. Possession of Cyclobenzaprine
12. Arrest Warrant – Violation of Parole – Absconder