Jason Champt, 27, of Fruitland Park, and Eliott Graham, 34, of Leesburg, were arrested just after 8 p.m., Wednesday along NW 27th Avenue in Ocala. Champt was driving and Graham was the passenger.
Discovered in their car was $38,000 in cash, according to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.
Champt, apparently, changed lanes without using a turn signal. A traffic stop was attempted.
“The vehicle then accelerated and began to flee at a high rate of speed,” according to the arrest affidavit. As Champt raced away, he nearly hit a pedestrian, ignored red lights and blew through stop signs. Witnesses say the vehicle topped 100 miles per hour. At one point, a deputy was able to use a precision immobilization technique (PIT maneuver) and stop the vehicle.
While one deputy spoke to Champt, Graham jumped from the vehicle and took off running. K9 Thor located Graham hiding in the woods. Both suspects were taken to the Marion County Jail.Champt will face charges of aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a law enforcement officer and resisting officer without violence. Graham faces a charge of resisting officer without violence.
