Madison County Sheriff Ben Stewart reports that during the early morning hours of Saturday the 6th day of April 2013 Deputy Daniel Dukes stopped a 2008 Mercedes Sedan on Interstate 10 West bound at the 258 mile marker for a traffic violation. When Deputy Dukes walked up to the Mercedes and tapped on the window the driver later identified as Michael Danel Williams, 39, of Ft. Lauderdale, FL quickly accelerated and sped off West bound. Deputy Dukes initiated a vehicle pursuit and called for support units. The Mercedes exited I-10 at the 251 mile marker (State Road 14) and reentered the Interstate East bound continuing to flee from Deputy Dukes. Speeds quickly reached in excess of 130 miles per hour as the Mercedes reached exit 258 (State Road 53). The Mercedes exited I-10 at the 258 exit ramp (State Road 53) and deputies lost visual contact.

Sgt. Bobby Boatwright, Cpl. Jarrod Lauth and Deputy Daniel Dukes began searching the area and checking local business for the Mercedes. Soon thereafter, Deputy Dukes observed a fresh set of tire tracks left in the dew leading behind Mt. Olive Church. Deputy Dukes followed the tire tracks and located the Mercedes parked behind Mt. Olive Church with the head lights off. As Deputy Dukes drove closer to the Mercedes it again sped off at a high rate of speed. Deputy Dukes continued pursuit South on State Road 53 headed back toward the Interstate.

Cpl. Lauth joined the pursuit while Sgt. Boatwright was able to successfully deploy tire deflation devices in an attempt to safely disable the Mercedes and terminate the pursuit. Three of the four tires on the Mercedes were deflated however the Mercedes continued to flee and got back on I-10 East bound. As the pursuit neared the 260 mile marker the Mercedes crossed the median and West bound lanes before coming to a stop against the fence line. The driver exited the Mercedes and climbed the fence before fleeing into the woods on foot.

Two passengers identified as Kelvin Levon Washington, 27, and John Sidney Clark, 33, both of Ft. Lauderdale, FL were immediately taken into custody without incident. Cpl. Kevin Stout with K-9 Onyx was called to the scene to track the driver and a short time later K-9 Onyx was able to successfully track the driver through a heavily wooded area where he promptly surrendered and was arrested without further incident.

The Mercedes was found to contain a felony amount of marijuana, along with stolen credit cards, driver licenses and social security cards.

Arrested and charged are the following:
Michael Danel Williams, BM, DOB 08/02/1973, of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Felony Fleeing & Eluding, Possession of Marijuana more than 20 grams

Kelvin Levon Washington, BM, DOB 12/14/1985, of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Felony Fleeing & Eluding, Possession of Marijuana more than 20 grams, Possession of stolen credit cards

John Sidney Clark, BM, DOB 10/20/1979, of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Felony Fleeing & Eluding, Possession of Marijuana more than 20 grams

Press Release: Madison County Sheriff’s Office