A 42-year-old man was arrested after he fled a traffic stop, crashed into an occupied vehicle, and tried to run from police on foot in DeLand.
On Friday, March 3, just before 1 a.m., a Volusia County Sheriff’s Office deputy passed a Cadillac CTS that was traveling on a DeLand roadway without its headlights turned on. The deputy made a U-turn, turned on his emergency lights, and attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the Cadillac.
According to a report filed by VCSO, the Cadillac, which was being driven by Damion Bletcher, began driving at a high rate of speed southbound on S. Woodland Boulevard.
The deputy disengaged his pursuit and notified dispatch of the fleeing vehicle, providing a description of the driver.
As the deputy turned onto E. Euclid Avenue, he noticed a large quantity of dust, smoke and debris in the air approximately a quarter mile away from his location. As he approached the scene, the deputy could see that the Cadillac he had been pursuing was involved in an accident.
Upon arrival, the deputy was notified by screaming bystanders that a man had crashed into another vehicle before exiting his vehicle and running from the scene. In the distance, the deputy noticed multiple bystanders pursuing Bletcher on foot.
DeLand Police Department officers arrived on the scene a short time thereafter and were able to take Bletcher into custody.
During a search of his vehicle, police uncovered approximately 57 grams of fentanyl, 47 grams of cocaine, 4 grams of crack cocaine, 3 grams of MDMA, as well as drug paraphernalia and marijuana.
Bletcher faces multiple charges in the case, including trafficking in fentanyl and cocaine, possession of MDMA, and fleeing police recklessly with serious injury. He also had many outstanding warrants for various crimes, according to police.
Bletcher was transported to the Volusia County Jail and is being held on no bond on failure to appear charges, as well as $782,500 for his other charges.
One person in the vehicle Bletcher crashed into was taken to the hospital for treatment of their injuries.