Navarre man leads deputies on chase, hits deputy with vehicle

A 36-year-old man is in jail without bond after leading police on a high-speed chase resulting in one deputy being hit by the fleeing vehicle.

Santa Rosa County Sheriff's deputies were called to Dominic Turner's home on Cosica Boulevard in Navarre for a possible domestic violence.

When officials arrived they found the Navarre man sitting in his black Lexus in the driveway of the home. Turner refused to comply with the deputies' demands to leave the vehicle. He fled the scene in his car.

After speaking with the alleged victim of the domestic violence, deputies broadcasted Turner's information believing they had enough information to arrest him on domestic violence and tampering with a witness. While speaking with the victim, Turner sent her a text stating, "the police won't stop me" and "we're not done until you're not breathing".

A while later, a Santa Rosa Sheriff's patrol unit in Pace spotted Turner's car on U.S. Highway 90 and Watkins Street and attempted to do a traffic stop, but Turner refused to yield. He lead officials through Pace and Milton without stopping.

Throughout the chase, Turner drove against the flow of traffic, attempted to hit patrol cars and avoided spike strips deployed to stop his vehicle.

Sheriff's officials say during one deployment of the spike strips, Turner saw a deputy with the strips and sharply turned, leaving the roadway into the grass, aiming his vehicle at the deputy.

As Turner drove his vehicle off the road way into the grass, the deputy ran to avoid being struck by Turner, but was still hit and thrown though the air, according to reports. Turner’s vehicle went approximately 30 feet off the roadway, officials say while at Hwy, 90 and Pond Creek, striking the deputy and eventually striking a large tree. Turner was able to maneuver his Lexus, which suffered substantial frontend damage, back onto Highway 90 and continued to flee from Santa Rosa Deputies.

The deputy who was struck was able to tell other deputies he had survived the impact. The deputy was taken to Santa Rosa Hospital. He sprained his knee and had numerous cuts and bruises, but has since been released from the hospital.

Turner struck another patrol vehicle during the pursuit causing damage. The pursuit continued north on U.S. Highway 87, and came to an end on near Pleasant Grove Road after Turner’s vehicle could no longer continue.

Officials say Turner refused to comply with the deputies trying to take him into custody and actively fought with officers. During the altercation, a deputy suffered multiple fractures to his finger.

A K9 unit was deployed and subdued Turner. The Navarre man continued to fight and resist arrest.

Turner was taken into custody and transported to Santa Rosa Hospital. He was treated for lacerations from the K9 apprehension, released and transported to the Santa Rosa County Jail.

Turner was charged with attempted felony murder for striking a deputy with his vehicle.

He also was charged with aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest with violence, and fleeing/eluding a law enforcement officer with injuries and damage. Turner was charged with the original domestic violence charges from the incident in Navarre.

Turner is being held in the Santa Rosa County Jail without bond.

This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Navarre man leads deputies on chase, hits deputy with vehicle