Man sought for murder leads police on chase, captured in neighboring county

WINTER PARK, Fla – A murder suspect led Osceola County deputies on a chase before being taken into custody in Orange County, deputies said.

Footage from the scene Wednesday night showed a large law enforcement presence at Fairbanks Avenue and Clay Street in Winter Park.

The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office engaged in a car pursuit of a suspect wanted for homicide within its own jurisdiction, as confirmed by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.

During the chase, the suspect’s vehicle crossed into Orange County, prompting deputies from that jurisdiction to join in the effort to capture the individual. The culmination of this pursuit occurred on Clay Street’s 600 block, where the suspect was successfully apprehended.

Video footage of the incident revealed that an Orange County Sheriff’s Office patrol car sustained damage to its front end while assisting in the apprehension. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries to any of the deputies involved in the operation.

Details on the suspect and what led up to the chase have not been given. Clay Street is back open.

Rhonda Harmon, who works near the scene, said she heard the chase unfold.

“I work in this building right here. I was sitting upstairs working, and I heard all the sirens,” Harmon said. “Then I heard more and more sirens, so I was like, OK, maybe I should get up. And then I heard a boom. I said, ‘Wait a minute, let me get up.’”

“Then I saw the guy crawling on his belly,” Harmon recalled. “You know, they had him crawl out on his belly with his hands up.”

The intensity of the response left witnesses on edge.

“It’s a little frightening because, you know, if you had seen all the cop cars. They had a line all the way down the street, helicopters flying. I was like, is this a murderer or somebody that has guns?” Harmon said.

“For them to crash the car into his truck, two of them, to stop him, it must have been something bad,” Harmon added. “He must have done something bad and was involved in something bad.”

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.