A Wildwood man who fled from police on a bicycle, leaving behind a trail of drugs and a single flip-flop, was captured a week later thanks to an anonymous tip.
Jermonic Bernard Luther, 46, was arrested Friday, June 5, after officers found him hiding inside a home in Wildwood.
According to an arrest report from the Wildwood Police Department, the saga began on the evening of May 29 when officers attempted to pull Luther over for riding a bicycle without lights near the intersection of Jackson and Terry streets.
Instead of stopping, Luther quickly turned into a front yard on Jackson Street, ditched the bicycle and took off running. As officers pursued him on foot, they watched Luther reach into his pocket and drop a plastic bag onto the ground. Luther managed to evade capture by vaulting over a metal chain-link fence and disappearing into the night.
When officers retraced his flight path, they found a plastic bag containing 0.68 grams of methamphetamine near the abandoned bicycle, along with a single Champion brand flip-flop. Near the fence where Luther escaped, police recovered a folded wad of cash and multiple individually packaged bags containing a total of 6.02 grams of marijuana.
A woman who lives nearby told police Luther had been making unwanted advances toward her and identified him as “Jerm.” Officers matched the description to Luther’s driver’s license photo.
A week later, police received an anonymous tip that Luther was hiding out at a residence at 500 Oak St. Officers went to the home, and the homeowner granted them permission to search the property. After officers announced their presence, Luther emerged from the rear of the residence with his hands raised and surrendered.
Luther is facing felony charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana with intent to sell, fleeing to elude law enforcement and tampering with physical evidence.
At last check, he was still being held at the Sumter County Detention Center on $7,500 bond.