He didn’t want a speeding ticket. That’s what the suspect in a high-speed chase that took the Sheriff’s Office and Vero Beach Police over Vero’s two bridges told authorities when they finally caught up to him in an apartment complex.
Evan Mitchell Buckman PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY INDIAN RIVER COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
Authorities arrested Evan Mitchell Buckman, 21, of 1830 Woodland Circle, Vero Beach, shortly before 1 a.m. Friday. He faces charges that include felony flee and elude and misdemeanor drug paraphernalia possession and is currently being held at the county jail in lieu of $5,000 bail.
A deputy was conducting traffic enforcement in the 1500 block of S. US 1 when Buckman’s vehicle sped by – far exceeding the 50 mph speed limit. The deputy activated the radar and saw the vehicle was traveling approximately 82 mph.
The deputy then pursued the vehicle, which was traveling north. The deputy noted in the arrest report that Buckman’s vehicle were “well over 100 mph” while the patrol vehicle maintained a speed between 80 and 85 mph. The deputy radioed for assistance and other personnel responded.
Buckman turned onto Indian River Boulevard from US 1 and continued to evade patrols. He then turned and crossed the Alma Lee Loy/17th Street bridge and went north on A1A until he hit Beachland Boulevard. Buckman then turned and crossed the Barber Bridge and fled north on Indian River Boulevard again.
Vero Beach Police were activated and began to pursue the speeding vehicle, and noted the car turned onto 45th Street and headed west, then turned again onto northbound US 1.
Authorities continued to chase Buckman and temporarily lost visual of him when he turned west onto 53rd Street. The Sheriff’s Office aviation unit responded and attempted to find the vehicle but was not successful, according to the report.
Instead, another deputy on the road spotted Buckman headed east on 53rd Street back toward US 1. The car then went south on US 1 and turned east on 45th Street where it entered Pinnacle Grove, where Buckman resides.
Authorities pulled in and noted the suspect vehicle was properly parked and the suspect got out. They were able to take Buckman into custody without further incident.
While in custody, Buckman told authorities he did not know why he didn’t stop – only that he didn’t want a speeding ticket and figured he wouldn’t get caught. He allowed deputies to search his vehicle, which yielded a “small glass marijuana bowl,” the report states, netting the drug paraphernalia possession charge.
