A couple was jailed early Sunday morning after a high-speed pursuit started in Summerfield and ended after the driver waived a handgun at Marion County deputies while traveling at a high rate of speed.
The incident started shortly before 3:30 a.m. when Marion County sheriff’s deputies spotted a white 2006 Kia Rio traveling east on SE Sunset Harbor Road at 75 mph in a 45-mph speed zone. The deputies reported that the vehicle was being driven “recklessly with its headlights turned off and crossing over the double yellow line.”
Deputies in marked patrol vehicles attempted to make a traffic stop and when the vehicle, driven by 30-year-old Jesse James Burch, of Ocala, failed to stop, they initiated a pursuit with lights and sirens active. Burch, along with his passenger, 22-year-old Justine Nicole Handley, of Eustis, continued southbound on SE Sunset Harbor Road to SE 105th Avenue and then south to SE Hwy. 42. Deputies reported that Burch frequently drove on the wrong side of the road and ran a red light at the intersection SE Hwy. 42 and S Hwy. 25.
Deputies attempted to use maneuvers to stop Burch but he evaded them by braking and swerving multiple times. He also allegedly pointed a firearm out his window at the pursuing deputies, which forced them to drop back but continue the pursuit.
Deputies also attempted to stop Burch’s vehicle with Stop Sticks but he avoided them, drove straight toward a deputy and then changed course and drove behind his marked patrol vehicle. A deputy eventually was able to use a maneuver to stop Burch’s car and he positioned his patrol vehicle against his driver’s door so he couldn’t escape, a sheriff’s office report states.
Both Burch and Handley were detained and placed under arrest. Deputies found a black Century Arms 9mm handgun on the driver’s side floorboard that had one round in the chamber and 16 rounds in the magazine. It was easily accessible to Burch, the report says.
Deputies also found a cheetah-print backpack in the rear seat that contained three needles with substances that field-tested positive for heroin. Two of the needles had “minute amounts of liquid remnants” in them and Handley claimed ownership of those and referred to them as “clean needles.” She said she had last used them several hours earlier to inject methamphetamine, the report says.
A computer check showed the Burch’s license had been suspended in May 2018 for failure to pay a traffic fine. It also showed that Burch was found guilty in December 2011 of possession of a controlled substance.
After being read his rights, Burch said he fled from the deputies because his license was suspended. He said he attempted to have deputies terminate the pursuit by driving with no headlights on the wrong side of the road. He also claimed he saw the firearm in the vehicle while he was fleeing and was just trying to discard it, not point it at deputies, the report says.
Burch said he didn’t drop the firearm because he was afraid it would discharge when it hit the ground. When asked if he attempted to run over the deputy who had put down the Stop Sticks, he said, “Please don’t charge me with that” but wouldn’t answer the question, the report says.
Both Burch and Handley were transported to the Marion County Jail. He was charged with fleeing/eluding law enforcement officers at a high rate of speed, driving with a suspended or revoked license, three counts of assault on an officer, possession of a weapon or ammunition by a convicted felon and displaying a firearm during a felony. He was being held on $70,000 bond and is due in court May 19 at 9 a.m.
Handley was charged with possession and/or use of drug equipment. She was being held on no bond and is due in court June 17 at 1:30 p.m. She also was arrested in December 2019 on charges of grand theft auto, driving while license suspended and possession of drug paraphernalia.
