07-03-2011, 02:01 PM
i am waiting for a photo of deceased Deputy John Mecklenburg. RIP
Jul 03, 2011
Florida
A Hernando County deputy died Sunday after crashing during a chase to catch a reckless driver.
The deputy, John Mecklenburg, 35, has been with Hernando County for more than two years. He died after being critically injured and flown to St. Joseph Hospital in Tampa.
The suspect who sparked the chase, Michael James Anthony, 35, of Silver Springs near Ocala, was arrested in Pinellas County.
The patrol and the Hernando Sheriff's Office provided this account of the chase:
It began around 4:30 a.m. when Brooksville police spotted a driver going the wrong way on U.S. 41. Police tried to stop the suspect, but he sped away in a 1991 Honda Accord.
Hernando County deputies joined the chase.
The deputies used their cruisers to try to force the suspect to stop, but failed and the suspect kept speeding on U.S. 41.
At the intersection with Ayers Road, a deputy lost control of his car and struck a pickup truck and a power pole. Authorities identified the deputy as Sgt. Brandon Ross, who sustained minor injuries.
But another deputy, Mecklenburg, continued the pursuit, and it went south into Pasco County.
Just south of the intersection with Painter Place, Mecklenburg lost control of his car, and it struck a tree. The car briefly caught fire, but the blaze was extinguished by other units. Mecklenburg was flown to St. Joseph's.
The suspect continued to flee through Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, and other motorists called 911 to report the reckless driving.
Finally, after 5 a.m., a Florida Highway Patrol trooper spotted the suspect's car with three flat tires off the shoulder of Fourth Street N, south of Interstate 275, in Pinellas County.
As the trooper approached, the suspect walked from the tree line along the roadway and surrendered.
Anthony was taken to Bayfront Medical Center with unspecified injuries. The patrol said he would later be booked into the Pinellas County Jail on multiple charges.
Deputy's car.
suspect.
Jul 03, 2011
Florida
A Hernando County deputy died Sunday after crashing during a chase to catch a reckless driver.
The deputy, John Mecklenburg, 35, has been with Hernando County for more than two years. He died after being critically injured and flown to St. Joseph Hospital in Tampa.
The suspect who sparked the chase, Michael James Anthony, 35, of Silver Springs near Ocala, was arrested in Pinellas County.
The patrol and the Hernando Sheriff's Office provided this account of the chase:
It began around 4:30 a.m. when Brooksville police spotted a driver going the wrong way on U.S. 41. Police tried to stop the suspect, but he sped away in a 1991 Honda Accord.
Hernando County deputies joined the chase.
The deputies used their cruisers to try to force the suspect to stop, but failed and the suspect kept speeding on U.S. 41.
At the intersection with Ayers Road, a deputy lost control of his car and struck a pickup truck and a power pole. Authorities identified the deputy as Sgt. Brandon Ross, who sustained minor injuries.
But another deputy, Mecklenburg, continued the pursuit, and it went south into Pasco County.
Just south of the intersection with Painter Place, Mecklenburg lost control of his car, and it struck a tree. The car briefly caught fire, but the blaze was extinguished by other units. Mecklenburg was flown to St. Joseph's.
The suspect continued to flee through Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, and other motorists called 911 to report the reckless driving.
Finally, after 5 a.m., a Florida Highway Patrol trooper spotted the suspect's car with three flat tires off the shoulder of Fourth Street N, south of Interstate 275, in Pinellas County.
As the trooper approached, the suspect walked from the tree line along the roadway and surrendered.
Anthony was taken to Bayfront Medical Center with unspecified injuries. The patrol said he would later be booked into the Pinellas County Jail on multiple charges.
Deputy's car.
suspect.