A 75-year-old Liberty County resident, James Brown, who lives in the CR 2279 area of South Liberty County, had a rude awakening around 2:30 a.m. Wednesday morning. He awoke to someone hooking onto, and pulling his 16-foot camper trailer out of his driveway while he was still inside.
Mr. Brown attempted to turn the inside trailer lights on but the suspect(s) had already disconnected the power to the trailer and were pulling out of the drive way.
The elderly man immediately got on his cell phone and called “911” telling the Sheriff’s dispatcher of his dilemma and the direction of travel of a pick-up truck that was towing him and his trailer south on SH 321 toward Dayton at a high rate of speed. While Mr. Brown and his trailer were being towed, he opened the trailer door and began firing a gun at the pick-up truck. As several shots rang out, the pickup began weaving back and forth across the highway, apparently, in an attempt to throw Mr. Brown from his trailer.
The weaving caused Mr. Brown to drop his cell phone but the dispatcher had already received enough information to broadcast the situation to deputies, along with the direction of travel on Hwy. 321.
Deputy Kenneth Taylor happened to be northbound on Hwy. 321 and saw the truck and trailer weaving back and forth across the highway.
As the trailer passed Deputy Taylor, he turned around and attempted to make a stop using his emergency equipment but the truck and trailer continued to flee south at speeds of approximately 60 MPH for another 5 miles. At this point the pick-up truck drove into the northbound lane putting the driver’s side near the ditch, preventing the Deputy from pulling alongside the driver’s side.
The truck suddenly came to a stop and the driver jumped from the truck and fled into the woods. A female passenger in the truck was detained by Deputy Taylor. The Dayton Police Department joined the search for the suspect in the woods but the search was not successful.
Mr. Brown told Deputy Taylor his home on CR 2279 was burglarized several times, so he had locked the gate to his driveway and was staying in the camper in an attempt to catch the burglars. Evidently, the thief, who stole Mr. Brown’s trailer with him in it, had cut the lock off his gate. Due to the version of the story given to Deputy Taylor by the female passenger, and the fact there was no direct evidence connecting her with this offense, all pertinent information was obtained from her and she was released.
The pick-up truck, which was not reported to be stolen at that time, was seized and held for further examination.
Sgt. Investigator Billy Knox is conducting the follow-up investigation.
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