Man’s Great Escape Foiled by Grey Spray Paint and a K-9 Named King
Brian Gene Brockett’s joyride escape from law enforcement failed miserably on January 7, as he attempted to evade Marion County deputies with all the finesse of a toddler playing hide-and-seek.
Deputies first spotted Brockett barreling along SE 1st Street Road in a beige Toyota Camry at 44 mph in a 30-mph zone. This, of course, caught the attention of law enforcement—particularly because Trainee Deputy Mohan recognized Brockett from her time working at the Marion County Jail. As the patrol car came into view, Brockett reportedly slouched low in his seat, then floored it, reaching speeds of over 75 mph.
The deputies activated their lights and sirens, initiating what Brockett must have imagined was his big break in an action movie. Unfortunately for him, it turned out to be more of a low-budget sitcom. Brockett led deputies on a high-speed chase that veered west onto SE 125th Terrace Road before he ditched the Camry in the woods, leaving behind a fresh coat of grey spray paint on the driver’s side, presumably his attempt at a “cloak of invisibility.”
Enter K-9 Deputy Christmas and his partner, King, who proved Brockett’s camouflage skills were no match for a good nose. King tracked Brockett through the woods, finding his discarded shoes and a black hoodie along the way. Deputies found Brockett not far from the abandoned Camry, sporting grey spray paint on his fingers—a bold fashion choice, indeed.
During questioning, Brockett wove a web of contradictions. Initially, he denied purchasing the spray paint found in the car, only to later admit to buying it (conveniently confirmed by a Walmart receipt timestamped earlier that day). He claimed to have been “sleeping” during the chase, a statement undermined by his cut-up feet, consistent with running shoeless through the woods. And when he asked deputies if they’d found his black jacket in the crashed car—before they even mentioned a crash—it was game over.
Adding to the drama, the Camry Brockett drove was unregistered and still bore the scent of the spray paint he applied in his feeble escape attempt.
Deputies took Brockett into custody, tacking on a trifecta of charges: fleeing law enforcement, driving with a suspended license (as a habitual offender), and failure to register a motor vehicle. With a laundry list of prior offenses and a history of dodging traffic fines, it seems Brockett’s brushes with the law have been as frequent as his trips to Walmart.
While Brockett may have thought his quick thinking and grey spray paint would elude authorities, it’s clear he underestimated both K-9 King and the deputies’ resolve. The moral of the story? If you’re running from the law, at least pick a better disguise than a half-painted Camry.
