Man leads deputies on chase; found hiding in truck by sheriff’s K-9

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A man who led deputies on a high-speed chase before his car was disabled by stop sticks, was jailed over the weekend, officials said. Indian River County Sheriff’s K-9 Sunny found the man hiding in a pickup truck after he ran from his vehicle, reports show.

Daniel Keith Walker, 31, of the 2400 block of 2nd Street, Vero Beach, was charged with two counts of fleeing and eluding, possession of a controlled substance, and two counts of driving with a suspended license. Walker was held Tuesday at the Indian River County Jail without bond.

“This is K-9 Sunny’s first apprehension since he and his handler finished school and went on patrol together in the middle of last year,” Indian River County sheriff’s officials said in a statement.

A sheriff’s patrol deputy spotted the car run a red light about 1:30 a.m. Saturday at the intersection of 10th Avenue and 14th Lane. The deputy tried to conduct a traffic stop, but the driver continued traveling and made a right turn onto 17th Street, reports show.

The driver – later identified as Walker – turned right onto 6th Avenue and headed southbound in the northbound lane, deputies said. Deputies said Walker’s car reached at least 86 mph in a 30-mph zone.

Walker ran three red lights and swerved in and out of traffic, almost striking two other motorists, deputies said.

Deputies threw stop sticks on the roadway at the U.S. 1 and Oslo Road intersection. The sticks pierced the front driver’s side tire, disabling it, reports show. Walker continued driving southbound at high speed with “sparks coming from the vehicle, due to it traveling on its rim.” reports show.

Walker pulled the car over on the shoulder of the road, got out and ran westbound on Highlands Drive.

Deputies said Walker failed to put his vehicle in park, causing the car to veer southbound. An officer had to jump in the vehicle’s driver seat to put it in the park position, reports show.

K-9 Sunny tracked Walker hiding in the bed of a pickup truck that was parked in an enclosed fence area of a local business. A deputy gave Walker several commands to come out, but Walker refused, reports show.

Walker was bitten by Sunny and eventually detained. Deputies found a white rock-like substance – which tested positive for crack cocaine – in the driver’s side door panel of Walker’s car, reports show.

Walker was booked into the county jail. Walker has an arraignment at 8:45 a.m. May 20, court records show.