POLK COUNTY, Fla. — A wanted man in Polk County is behind bars after the sheriff's office says he ran from a traffic stop, assaulted deputies and swallowed a bag of meth on Wednesday.
Deputies attempted to pull over Darrell Bailey, 43, who was wanted for failing to register as a sex offender, around 5:30 on Wednesday afternoon in a parking lot on Church Avenue in Mulberry.
The sheriff's office says Bailey made a U-Turn and drove through the lot when he saw the deputy. He headed west on Shepherd Road and a deputy attempted a P.I.T (Precision Immobilization Technique) Maneuver on Bailey's gray Dodge Ram pickup near the intersection of County Line Road.
The truck spun but Bailey regained control and drove at the patrol car, the sheriff's office says. He narrowly missed hitting the deputy.
Bailey kept driving and when he reached the end of Godwin Street, the sheriff's office says he drove over a fence, hit a shed and came to a stop.
Deputies arrested Bailey. They say he admitted to running because he thought he had warrants out for his arrest and he had methamphetamine on him.
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The sheriff's office says he told the deputies he intentionally swallowed the bag of drugs so it wouldn't be found. He was also found with Alprazolam and drug paraphernalia in his possession, according to authorities.
"This was an epic fail for this guy. He had a warrant for failing to register as a sex offender, he failed to stop for deputies, he failed at getting away," Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said. "He made a lot of choices today, but failed several times with those choices. We're extremely grateful though, that he failed to hit our deputy with his truck."
Bailey was taken to the Polk County jail on the following charges:
- Aggravated assault on a LEO
- Fleeing to elude LEO
- Tampering with evidence
- Criminal mischief Over $1000
- Possession of methamphetamine
- Possession of Alprazolam
- Break/Injure fence
- Possession of drug paraphernalia
- Knowingly driving while license suspended/revoked
According to the sheriff's office, his criminal history consists of 15 felony charges and 8 misdemeanors. That includes charges for sex offense against child-fondling (2), robbery (2), burglary, grand theft motor vehicle (3), grand theft, hit & run (2), fleeing to elude, failure to register as a sex offender, reckless driving, resisting, retail theft, battery (2), petit theft (3), harassing phone calls, driving without valid dl (2), failure to appear (2) and violation of probation.
