A 47-year-old Ocala man was arrested early Sunday morning after allegedly leading Marion County sheriff’s deputies on a chase along State Road 200 before ramming a patrol vehicle.
Rayon Thompson, 47, was arrested November 8 on charges of fleeing and eluding law enforcement, aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting an officer without violence.
According to the arrest affidavit, Deputy Cory Bennett was patrolling the southwest district around 1:12 a.m. when he spotted a gray Volkswagen Tiguan traveling southbound on State Road 200 near SW 80th Street.
Bennett reported clocking the vehicle at 65 mph in a posted 50 mph zone. The vehicle was also reportedly swerving within its lane and following another vehicle too closely.
When Bennett activated his emergency lights to initiate a traffic stop, the driver slowed to approximately 40 mph but continued traveling.
The vehicle eventually made a U-turn near SW 103rd Street Road before pulling into the Wendy’s parking lot at 8470 SW Highway 200. Rather than stopping, the driver returned to the highway and continued southbound.
With Bennett’s emergency lights and siren activated, the vehicle turned into Corta Commons Plaza, where it reportedly made several abrupt movements through the parking lot before returning to State Road 200.
Deputies then attempted a Precision Immobilization Technique (PIT maneuver) on the vehicle’s rear driver’s side, bringing it to a stop near 8530 SW Highway 200.
According to the affidavit, Thompson allegedly shifted his vehicle back into drive and struck the front of a deputy’s marked patrol vehicle while its emergency lights and siren were activated.
The collision reportedly caused the deputy’s body to lurch forward before falling back against the seat.
Deputies issued several commands for Thompson to exit his vehicle, but he allegedly refused to comply. He was eventually removed from the vehicle and placed under arrest.
Thompson was transported to AdventHealth Ocala for treatment of minor injuries before being taken to the Marion County Jail.
The affidavit also indicates that a separate DUI investigation was initiated following his arrest. No DUI charge was listed among the three charges in this arrest affidavit.
Thompson was held without bond at the time of the arrest report.
