INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A man was jailed after deputies said he led officers on a two-county chase and tried to ram a deputy’s vehicle several times during the pursuit. The vehicle flipped upside down into a ditch as Bryant drove away from officers.
The chase led to an extensive manhunt that included cooperation from agencies including the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office helicopters, Sebastian Police K-9 and the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office Air Unit, officials said.
Johnathan Bryant
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY INDIAN RIVER COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
Johnathan Germaine Bryant, 33, of the 600 block of Fleming Street, Sebastian, was charged with aggravated assault on an officer, aggravated fleeing and eluding, burglary, leaving the scene of an accident with property damage, driving with a suspended license and failure to appear. Bryant was held Wednesday at the Indian River County Jail without bond.
Indian River Sheriff’s K-9 Deputy Mindy Mangel and her canine partner “Tuko” helped track Bryant’s location after he ran from his vehicle.
The incident unfolded early Wednesday when Bryant drove into the area after fleeing from deputies in Brevard County. When Bryant traveled south into Indian River County, a patrol officer tried to conduct a traffic stop on his vehicle, sheriff’s officials said.
Bryant tried to crash into the deputy’s vehicle multiple times during the traffic stop, sheriff’s officials said. Deputies said Bryant drove off again but crashed into a ditch.
Bryant then got out of the dark-colored car and fled into a nearby wooded area, deputies said. Mangel and Tuko found Bryant hiding in a shed near the 2100 block of 87th Avenue, just east of Interstate 95, and detained him.
Bryant was arrested and booked into the county jail. Details on Bryant’s arraignment were not immediately available.
