In the early hours of August 9, 2025, the streets of Summerfield became the scene of a dramatic police chase that culminated in the arrest of Zachary Briggs. The incident began when Deputy T. Cetin, stopped at a red light at the intersection of Highway 441 and Highway 42, noticed a white 2008 Chevrolet Silverado with no lights on its license plate. After the truck turned right onto Highway 42, the deputy quickly followed and activated his sirens, signaling for the driver to pull over.
However, instead of stopping, the Silverado’s driver, later identified as Briggs, decided to speed away, making a sharp left onto SE 99th Avenue. From there, the chase escalated as Briggs continued to accelerate at high speeds, defying the officer’s attempts to bring him to a halt. The pursuit continued through several turns before Briggs brought the vehicle to a sudden stop in the front yard of a residence at 9624 SE 170th Lane.
At this point, Briggs exited the truck and, perhaps realizing the jig was up, laid down on the ground. Deputies quickly moved in, arresting him without further incident. A search of his person revealed a solid white tube containing a white crystal substance tucked in his front pocket.
In a post-Miranda rights interview, Briggs admitted to fleeing the scene upon seeing the flashing lights, claiming he was “scared” because he only had a valid ID card and no actual driver’s license. When asked about the tube in his pocket, he confessed that it contained crystal meth. A field test confirmed the substance was indeed methamphetamine, adding another charge to his growing list of offenses.
Further investigation revealed that Briggs’ license had been suspended in New York due to a prior Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) conviction back in 2014. As if the chase and drug charges weren’t enough, Briggs also faces a slew of citations, including fleeing to elude, possession of drug paraphernalia, and driving with a suspended license.
Now behind bars at the Marion County Jail, Briggs will face serious charges that could result in significant legal consequences. What started as a simple traffic stop has turned into a much larger legal battle, leaving many to wonder if a quick getaway was worth the trouble he now faces.
