A 28-year-old Ohio man wanted on out-of-state warrants was apprehended Friday afternoon after a reckless car pursuit, several break-ins, and a foot chase through Islamorada that ended in the water.
Deputies attempted to stop a Dodge SUV near Mile Marker 83 about 12:30 p.m. on September 4 after noticing it travelling at 63 mph in a 45-mph zone. Brandon Lee May of East Liberty, Ohio, refused to pull over and sped into a nearby Publix grocery store parking lot, where he drove erratically and endangered pedestrians.
May abandoned her SUV in the parking lot and fled on foot. Anthony Shane Morris, 28, of Islamorada, Florida, remained in the vehicle and took the driver’s seat.
During the foot chase, May attempted to get into a plumbing shop before fleeing to a nearby residence, where he took a fire extinguisher, removed its pin, and hopped a fence into Avocado Street. He then broke into another home before diving into the Gulf.
Deputies used a Taser to subdue May in the water before taking him into jail. According to authorities, May actively fought arrest by pushing away and kicking cops, and she continued to fight staff even after being brought to Mariners Hospital in Tavernier.
May was then taken to HCA Florida Kendall Hospital for treatment of a broken wrist, where he remained in prison Saturday morning. There were no life-threatening injuries recorded during the incident.
A search of the Dodge SUV revealed two firearms. Morris first provided deputies a bogus name for May and stated that the two men had met around five days prior. Morris was arrested and booked into jail on charges of accessory after the fact.
May is facing charges in Florida for fleeing and evading while endangering pedestrians, armed burglary, grand theft, possession of a firearm by a felon while committing a felony, resisting arrest with or without violence, and driving with a suspended licence. According to records, May has active warrants out of Ohio for robbery, battery by strangulation, and probation violation.
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