JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Drivers are voicing their opinions about a Northbound I-95 high-speed chase involving law enforcement. It began with St. Johns County deputies making a traffic stop and ended with a state trooper spinning out a truck with a pit maneuver.
Today, the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office released footage of the May 29th chase and the mugshot of suspect Alexandria Mason.
The video shows a St. Johns County deputy pulling Mason over at a McDonald’s near I-95 and State Road 16. Deputies say they stopped her because she had a felony warrant out of Citrus County for not appearing in court on drug possession charges.
READ: SJSO releases footage of police pursuit, crash that injured FHP trooper near Atlantic Blvd.
In the video, you can hear Mason saying, “You’re not allowed to stop me.”
Soon after, she drives off.
Deputies began chasing Mason northbound on I-95 for nearly 30 miles from St. Johns County into Duval County. The video shows the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) taking over and driving around 90 miles an hour.
Helicopter video shows the moments state troopers stopped the woman by the exit to Atlantic Boulevard -- near San Marco.
State troopers used what’s called a pit maneuver, hitting the side of the truck Mason was driving and sent it swerving into the barrier wall.
“Florida highway patrol – we’re trained in the pit maneuver and that is something that we take very seriously,” FHP Spokesperson Dylan Bryan said.
An FHP report says the truck lost control and hit a black sedan, but it’s not shown in the video. The report says no one in the sedan was injured.
Action News Jax Law and Safety Expert Dale Carson has over two decades of law enforcement. He said car chases should be used as a last resort.
“To chase individuals when you’ve already identified who she is… you can find her later,” Carson said. “When you pursue someone in an automobile, you’re on a public road. This is not a racecourse. So, there are other people whose lives are in extreme danger.”
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FHP’s newly updated policy from December allows for troopers to pursue a suspect if they believe they’re actively eluding law enforcement.
“The Florida Highway Patrol, as far as I’m concerned, is out of control, I think,” Rocky Caggiano, a Florida resident, said.
Action News Jax Annette Gutierrez spoke with Rocky Caggiano and Carol Gardner at a rest stop on I-95, on Monday. They were traveling south from New York to their home in South Florida.
“It’s pretty scary,” Gardner said. “I’m glad it wasn’t us. It’s just frightening.”
Caggiano said he doesn’t believe FHP should chase someone on a warrant for drugs, saying, “Get the plate number, go to his residence, go and pick them up.”
But Bryan says they use it only when necessary.
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“When our agency is available to assist, we intervene as quickly as possible,” Bryan said. “Obviously the longer a pursuit continues, the higher possibility of something going awry.”
The FHP report says Mason and two troopers were hurt. One trooper reportedly had sustained significant hand injuries.
FHP arrested Mason, and she’s now facing charges from both FHP and the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office -- including running from law enforcement, reckless driving, and armed possession of a controlled substance.
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