UPDATE: Monday, 7:37 p.m.
INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — The search for a Fellsmere area man who authorities say tried to ram several police cruisers while fleeing is now over.
Sam T. Joyce III, 56, of the 14100 block of 122nd St., west of Fellsmere, turned himself in to authorities at the Indian River County jail Monday afternoon.
Joyce turned himself in on the advice of his attorney, Andy Metcalf, the Sheriff’s Office said. Metcalf told detectives that he would attempt to work out a plan in which Joyce would surrender.
A few hours later, Joyce was arrested in the front lobby of the Sheriff’s Office without incident. He is being held in the Indian River County Jail without bond until his first appearance before a judge tomorrow morning.
Authorities began the hunt for Joyce over the weekend after they say he tried to ram several Sheriff’s cruisers while trying to flee.
Joyce faces several charges including four counts aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, one count domestic violence related aggravated assault and one count felony fleeing and eluding.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, Joyce got into an argument with his girlfriend Saturday evening that escalated when she refused to give him the keys to her vehicle. Joyce threatened to damage her car with a crowbar and later grabbed a gun from his own vehicle.
Joyce then pointed the gun at the woman and threatened to “start shooting” if she didn’t hand over the keys, the Sheriff’s Office said.
The woman then complied, at which time Joyce fled the home in a truck.
About 2 1/2 hours later, Sheriff’s Deputy Keppel spotted the vehicle with Joyce in it and attempted to pull him over. Joyce refused to stop and instead drove the truck directly into the path of another deputy’s cruiser.
Lieutenant Beckerdite, who was in the cruiser, exited the vehicle, believing Joyce was going to ram the vehicle, the Sheriff’s Office said. Joyce, instead, maneuvered around the cruiser without hitting it.
Joyce then altered his path to collide with Deputy Russell’s vehicle, the Sheriff’s Office said. However, Deputy Russell was able to avoid the collision without incident.
Deputy Clark, too, was placed on a collision course with Joyce, who sped toward the patrol car, according to the Sheriff’s Office. The deputy was able to narrowly miss being hit.
In an attempt to evade the officers, Joyce rammed his truck into a gate of a 20-plus acre pasture. However, he crashed the vehicle into a ditch and then fled the scene on foot.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, the deputies found it difficult driving in the pasture and lost time trying to catch up with Joyce on foot.
The Sheriff’s helicopter, K-9 units and members of SWAT were called out to the area to search.
