Carjacking; Chase; One arrested

Madison County Sheriff’s Office
Contributor

On Wednesday, Sept. 21, a carjacking in Madison County ended with the stolen vehicle crashing in Jefferson County.
Deputy William Terry with the Madison County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) responded to the westbound rest area on Interstate 10 in Madison County regarding a report of a stolen vehicle. Upon arrival, Deputy Terry made contact with the vehicle owner, who reported that upon exiting the restroom she observed her friend in a physical struggle with a male (later identified as Eric Erron Smith). Smith shoved the victim to the ground, causing the victim to strike her head on the concrete, resulting in injury. Smith gained control of the vehicle keys and entered the victim’s vehicle. A rest area employee observed the attack and ran to the vehicle in attempt to help the two ladies, ages 73 and 83. Smith momentarily exited the sedan and attacked the
employee, causing injury to the employees’ face before reentering the sedan. Smith backed the car, striking the vehicle owner and knocking her to the ground. Smith then fled the rest area in the sedan at a high rate of speed. Deputy Terry provided a vehicle description to other responding deputies while rendering medical aid to the victims.
Deputy Ryan Davis spotted the stolen sedan traveling westbound near the 251-mile marker and attempted to conduct a traffic stop; however, Smith refused to stop. Deputy Davis initiated pursuit, and speeds quickly reached 130 mph. Deputies Brian Bish and Brent Sims, along with troopers from the Florida Highway Patrol, joined the pursuit to assist Deputy Davis. During the pursuit, Smith would recklessly pass traffic by driving into the median and in the emergency lane and maintained a high rate of speed. At one point, Smith even sideswiped a MCSO patrol car driven by Deputy Gerald Alexander.
The pursuit entered Jefferson County as Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office deputies were responding to deploy tire deflation devices. As the pursuit neared the 224-mile marker, Smith drove into the median to pass two tractor trailers but lost control of the sedan. Smith attempted to regain control and enter back into the travel lanes. Deputy Davis struck the sedan with his patrol vehicle, causing the sedan to cross both lanes and strike Deputy Bish’s patrol vehicle before momentarily coming to a stop in the ditch. Smith attempted to accelerate the sedan when Deputy Sims struck the sedan in the driver side door. The sedan was then completely blocked by the deputies' and troopers' patrol vehicles. Smith was then successfully taken into custody.
Due to the arrest occurring in Jefferson County, Smith was medically cleared and booked into the Jefferson County Jail before being returned to the Madison County Jail. The victims all received minor injuries, including a MCSO deputy.
Eric Erron Smith, 25, of Jacksonville, Fla., was charged with grant theft of a motor vehicle, aggravated battery with a vehicle, battery on persons over 65, battery, fleeing and eluding, aggravated battery on law enforcement (2 counts) and robbery-sudden snatching.