Chase, crash, end in helicopter rescue

Chase, crash, end in helicopter rescue

Posted June 26, 2008 1:45 a.m. EST
Updated June 26, 2008 3:50 p.m. EST

STARKE, FL - A simple traffic stop turned into a nightmare for several law enforcement officers Wednesday. One patrol car was crashed and law enforcement officers were trapped in the woods while apprehending the fleeing suspects.

At approximately 7:00 p.m. on June 25, the Starke Police Department developed information on the location of Lemuel Leander Cooper, of Melrose, who was wanted on warrants from Clay, Bradford and Alachua Counties.

Cooper, 20, was traveling with two other people in a silver Mazda which was spotted by SPD Sgt. Matthew Watson in the area of Water Street and SR 100. He initiated a traffic stop at which time the suspects refused to stop and a high speed pursuit ensued heading eastbound towards Keystone Heights. The pursuit turned west onto CR 18 when Sgt. Watson decided to terminate 

the chase.

A patrol vehicle driven by SPD Captain Harvey Rhoden was positioned in front of the pursuit with emergency lights engaged when the suspect vehicle approached at a high rate of speed. The suspect vehicle lost control and crashed into Captain Rhoden’s parked patrol vehicle resulting in major damage. Captain Rhoden was not injured.

The driver, Joshua Harvey Hutchinson, and Cooper fled on foot into the area known as the Santa Fe Swamp. The third occupant, Tessi S. Cooper, 19, was arrested at the crash scene. K-

Crash photos courtesy of the Starke Police Department

9 Units along with additional deputies from Bradford and Clay counties were brought in to help for the suspect.

SPD K-9 Sgt. Ricky Crews and his K-9 Ori responded to the scene and began searching for the subjects in the dense woods. The Department of Corrections deployed K-9 Officers Lt. Shawn Swain, Sgt. Eric Hall and Sgt. Sam Norris with K-9 bloodhound Shelby to assist with the search as well.

Alachua County’s Joint Aviation Unit responded and with the use of the FLIR (forward looking infra-red) system and the tracking K-9, found Cooper and Hutchinson hiding several miles from the crash scene. Officers had to physically apprehend Cooper who resisted arrest with violence. The Hutchinson subject was taken into custody without incident.

Due to the dense woods and the suspect’s injuries, a helicopter evacuation was requested. A United States Coast Guard search and rescue helicopter from Clearwater responded and conducted the difficult task of a hoist extraction of Cooper. He was then transported to Shands Hospital in Gainesville, where he was treated and released for a broken arm and numerous punctures from the K-9.

One of the DOC officers sustained minor injury from the extreme conditions and K-9 Shelby from DOC needed IV injected fluids after tracking the suspects for over three miles in the dense woods and extreme heat. They were both extracted by the Coastguard helicopter as well. The tracking teams stated the swamp underbrush was as thick as they had ever encountered.

In addition to his felony warrants, Cooper is charged with resisting arrest with violence, striking a police K-9, 2 counts of violation of probation and failure to appear. Hutchinson, 20, of Gainesville, is being charged with felony fleeing and attempting to elude, reckless driving and resisting arrest without violence. Tessi Cooper, of Starke, was charged with disorderly conduct.