Fleeing vehicle: 1/20/24

Around 8:15 p.m. Saturday, we were notified of a driver who fled from the Bunnell Police Department during a traffic stop in Flagler County. Deputies located the vehicle heading south on U.S. 1 and again attempted a traffic stop. The driver refused to pull over and continued at low speed. Ormond Beach and Holly Hill police joined in following the vehicle, and OBPD successfully deployed stop sticks. The driver eventually pulled into the 7-Eleven at 1601 N. Ridgewood Ave., but refused to exit the vehicle. He did not respond to commands or communications and was seen reaching for something in the vehicle. By this point, the driver had already been identified as Michael Anthony Pettit (DOB 11/28/1979), who had a criminal history including fleeing, escape, resisting arrest with violence and possession of an edged weapon during previous encounters with law enforcement. Deputies and OBPD officers put together a plan to approach the vehicle, breach the rear window, and deploy pepperballs into the vehicle. Deputies approached with shields and breached the window, and OBPD deployed the pepperballs. Pettit immediately exited and was taken into custody without further incident around 9:20 p.m. People inside the 7-Eleven were relocated to the back of the store for safety during the incident. There were no injuries other than a small laceration to a deputy’s hand during the breach of the window. A pair of pliers were found in the vehicle in the area where Pettit was reaching. Pettit is being charged with fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement and resisting an officer without violence. He is being charged by both VSO and Bunnell PD.