Bell Man Charged After Alleged Late-Night Pursuit in Alachua

ALACHUA – A 48-year-old Bell man was arrested late Saturday night after allegedly fleeing from a responding officer and resisting efforts to remove him from his truck, according to law enforcement reports.

The incident began at about 10:55 p.m. on Feb. 21, when the Alachua Police Department received a report of a vehicle stationary in the roadway in the 14400 block of Northwest 54th Terrace. All APD units were handling another call at the time, and a High Springs Police Department officer responded under a mutual aid agreement.

According to the arrest report, the HSPD officer arrived at approximately 11:22 p.m. and located a red pickup truck on the side of the roadway with the engine running and brake lights illuminated. The officer reported seeing a white male slumped over in the driver’s seat with his foot on the brake pedal.

When the officer’s body-worn camera activated with an audible beep, the driver awoke. The officer reported smelling a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage while speaking with the driver, identified as Micah Timothy-Wynter Ellsworth.

The officer instructed Ellsworth to exit the vehicle, but Ellsworth allegedly refused and placed the truck in drive. The officer told him to shift the vehicle into park, but Ellsworth reportedly did not comply. The officer reached into the truck and shifted it into park himself. He also attempted to remove the keys from the ignition but was unable to locate them, according to the report.

Ellsworth allegedly placed the truck in drive again and drove away, spinning the tires as he left. The HSPD officer initiated a pursuit with emergency lights and siren activated. The truck continued down the roadway before pulling into a fenced yard through an open driveway, according to the report.

The officer positioned his patrol vehicle at the driveway entrance to prevent the truck from exiting and waited for backup units to arrive.

An Alachua Police Department K-9 officer responded to assist. According to the report, the APD officer found Ellsworth seated inside the truck, facing the HSPD patrol vehicle. The officer ordered Ellsworth to exit the truck. Ellsworth allegedly responded with an expletive and displayed his middle finger.

The APD officer positioned his patrol vehicle behind the truck as officers attempted to contain the vehicle. According to the report, Ellsworth attempted to drive around the patrol vehicles as officers tried to box him in.

Law enforcement officers eventually removed Ellsworth from the truck. He was transported to a local emergency room for medical clearance before being booked into the Alachua County Jail.

Ellsworth has been charged with fleeing with lights and sirens active, resisting an officer without violence and driving without a valid license with a previous conviction.

Court records indicate Ellsworth has five misdemeanor convictions in Alachua County prior to 2002. In Gilchrist County, he has three felony convictions, including one classified as violent, and five misdemeanor convictions, including one violent offense.

Judge James Colaw set bail at $60,000.

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