Suspect Arrested After Multi-County Pursuit Following Alleged Aggravated Assault
A 31-year-old man was taken into custody Sunday night after allegedly leading law enforcement on a multi-county pursuit that began in Manatee County and ended in Tampa.
According to the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, Randall Woodson is accused of committing an aggravated assault by intentionally ramming a woman’s vehicle and sending her threatening messages before fleeing from deputies.
Investigators said detectives spoke with Woodson shortly after the alleged assault, during which he reportedly stated that he was armed and would not return to jail.
Just before 10 p.m. on June 28, deputies located Woodson’s vehicle in the 1100 block of 9th Street West in Bradenton. Authorities said he immediately fled, causing a crash near the intersection of 6th Avenue and 9th Street West before continuing south.
The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office Aviation Unit tracked the vehicle from the air as the pursuit crossed the Green Bridge, through Pinellas County and continued into Hillsborough County. The Florida Highway Patrol joined the pursuit after Woodson crossed the Gandy Bridge.
The pursuit ended in Tampa when Woodson reportedly drove off the roadway near Manhattan Boulevard, crashed into a fence, and fled on foot into a wooded area. Deputies from the Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit, working with the Aviation Unit, tracked him to his location, where he surrendered.
Following the arrest, investigators recovered a rifle and suspected narcotics from Woodson’s vehicle.
Woodson has been charged with fleeing to elude law enforcement, reckless driving with property damage, leaving the scene of a crash with property damage, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Authorities said additional charges related to the investigation are pending.