Deidre Myers
ECB Publishing, Inc.
Deputies from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) and troopers from the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) pursued a vehicle around 3:50 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 4, according to the press release from Sheriff Mac McNeill.
The chaos ensued after FHP conducted a traffic stop, on a vehicle, for an equipment violation. According to the press release, the driver, identified as Matthew Lowe, had a suspended license and a felony warrant out of Palm Beach County, Fla., for burglary of an occupied dwelling.
When FHP troopers asked Lowe to exit the vehicle, he accelerated and fled the traffic stop. With troopers in pursuit, and calling for backup, Lowe crossed through the I-10 medium several times, traveling both east and west, in order to try to elude capture. Troopers attempted multiple times to attempt the PIT maneuver in hopes of immobilizing the vehicle but were unsuccessful.
According to the release, the pursuit continued stretching from U.S. Highway 19 on Interstate 10 to exit 217 (State Road 59) where Lowe then exited and continued north on Gamble Road. Lowe continued north to Old Magnolia road, where he made his way, fleeing onto Lake road.
Deputies from JCSO, assisting in the pursuit, were able to slow the suspect’s vehicle down, resulting in a JCSO vehicle being struck by Lowe. FHP was then given the opportunity to PIT the vehicle successfully at this point in the pursuit, which resulted in Lowe wrecking the vehicle and thus ending the fleeing and allowed for Lowe to be taken into custody.
Two females were then discovered to also be in the vehicle at the time, but were determined to be passengers that were being held against their will. Both passengers stated they had made several attempts to exit the vehicle despite the chaos.
Matthew Lowe was arrested on four felonies: flee/elude police; out of county warrant (Palm Beach County); aggravated battery on an officer; and kidnapping/false imprisonment. Lowe was also charged with four misdemeanors: hit and run; reckless driving first offense; driving while license suspended or revoked; and resisting an officer. Lowe was booked into the Jefferson County Jail.
Assisting the Florida Highway Patrol and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office was Jefferson County Fire Rescue.