Car chase ends at County Jail

Historic City News learned that when police attempted to pull over a pickup truck for reckless driving on U.S. Highway 1 this morning, a chase involving dozens of officers ensued.

St. Augustine police were joined by St. Johns County deputies pursuing the pickup north on U.S. 1 and through some surrounding streets.

Officers said the driver ran stop lights and rammed a couple of cars, including a police car.

When the chase reached Lewis Speedway — in front of the sheriff’s office — deputies threw stop sticks under the pickup’s wheels to flatten the tires and the driver finally stopped.

Deputies said the driver, later identified as Lance Porter, 23, rolled up his windows and refused to get out of the vehicle.

“He had rolled the windows up of the truck at the time of the stop,” Sgt. Chuck Mulligan said. “They had to break the window out of the truck and bring him out. He was resisting. He was subsequently Tased and then handcuffed and taken to the St. Johns County Jail.”

Mulligan said Porters was expected to be charged with aggravated fleeing at attempting to elude, aggravated assault for driving his vehicle into an occupied patrol car, and resisting arrest with violence. St. Augustine police may file additional charges.

Deputies do not know why Porter tried so hard to get away from deputies. He was not wanted by police and had a clean driving record.