Hey. >> On October 26th, 2024, deputies in Ocala, Florida, responded to a man who claimed he needed medical help. But while they waited for an ambulance, 42-year-old James suddenly ran toward a sheriff's patrol vehicle, climbed inside, and drove away. What followed was a high-speed pursuit with deputies chasing their own stolen patrol car. >> Okay, who is this person? >> I I I know he's a drug addict, I think. >> Does he live on this property or not? >> No. No. No. >> Do you know where he's at right now? >> Yes, he's right there. I I just pointed to That's his head. >> Hello, Sheriff's Office. What's going on? >> I'm having a really bad day. >> Okay. >> You have my record, police record? >> I I got nothing, sir. All we got was a phone call saying you were at the cemetery, which didn't wasn't the case. So so what is it going on? What is it you called us out here for? >> What did dispatch say? >> They told us that you called, said people were after you, you were in the trees, and then a second call came in, and you said you were at the cemetery. >> And are you guys here to like protect and serve my best interests? >> I'm here because you called. I'm not sure what it is we can do for you. That's what we're trying to figure out. >> I violated probation if I do drugs. Cocaine's my drug. >> Well, if all you've done is used drugs prior to us being here, and you're not in possession of any drugs, there's nothing we can do about your probation. I can't violate you for having consumed something prior to my arrival. >> Um psychiatric. Who do you recommend? >> Are you thinking about injuring yourself, hurting yourself, or anyone? >> No. I'm thinking about laying here till the stars come up. >> Where are you going? Where are you going? Hey. Hey. Hey. Hey. Hey. >> Where are you off to? >> All right. >> Mhm. Is your car locked? >> Yeah. >> No. Just whose car is that? I just locked it. Hey! Whose car is that, man? Hey! Stop the car! Over the station, man. It's over there. Just the time my vehicle attempted to take it today. Hey! Hey! 5570 back at Chili's, too. >> Hey, you sleeping in this car? >> 40-307 in the front. >> 40-304. Mary, I need every unit start heading this way that's not on something. Mary, make contact with that ambulance. Tell them to stay right there at that gate. Keep it locked. Don't open that gate. 60-301, you need me? >> 60-680, we are in the field. 15-47. >> Stay off the radio. Listen, I need you to keep that front gate locked. Keep it get out of here. >> You got your seat belt on? >> Yes, sir. >> Hey, I want one of you to get over there by that front gate in case any ambulance moves. Quite a distance right now. Hey, whose vehicle is this? 5507, do you have any unsecured firearms in this vehicle I need to know about? I don't know. >> What, you don't have any additional handguns in there? >> 54, I just have my service pistol on me and then the rifle is in the lock. >> 10-4, sounds good. >> Sorry, did he came up on channel 3. >> All right, we're going through he made it out of gate, Marion. We're on 52nd Street, 52nd Street headed towards Pine. >> North 2 on Pine, headed to 52nd Street. >> 45080, he is not running with lights or sirens. He is at a high speed. >> Lights and sirens on 481. >> All right, slowing down for traffic, let's see what happens. All right, we're northbound Pine, northbound Pine. >> Northbound on Pine coming up to Lake >> stop sticks in front of the Queens. >> Stop sticks in front of the Queens. >> All right, we missed this first set of stop sticks, still going northbound Pine. >> 10-4, still northbound. >> Coming up to Lake Weir Avenue, there's a train, so we're going to continue north on Pine. >> Northbound on Pine coming up to Lake Weir Avenue. >> Just past Lake Weir Avenue. >> Just past Lake Weir. >> Is the GPS tracking that car? >> 10-4. >> Coming up to you at Queen's Garden. >> Coming up to Queen's. >> Sticks are at Queen's. My sticks are out of commission. So, we're going to run them over. Negative head on sticks. Negative head on sticks. Still northbound. >> Still northbound. >> Passing 32nd. Hold up. Hold up. Clear. Clear. Clear. Clear. Get out of my damn way. All right. Coming up to the uh overpass for the train. >> Coming overpass for the train. All units stay out of the pursuit. >> All right. Passing 23rd Street. >> Passing 23rd Street. OPD is passed. >> Man, OPD needs to stay out of my way. They're about to cause a signal four. >> All OPD units stay out of the pursuit. I only need Kilo. Until their Kilo comes. All other units >> I was trying to work on my radio, but I wasn't able to make it. >> I need the damn radio. I need the radio, guys. Passing 200. >> Passing 200. >> Get ready. >> I was trying to wave at turn it off. 8-10 you please. >> I'll go next now. >> Going back south. >> Hearing them out. >> 10-4. >> That's 21. I need you out of the woods. >> 10-9 uh >> Hearing Kilo they are going westbound on 10th Street now. >> 65-85 I'm behind OPD. We're westbound 10th Street. >> Westbound 10th Street. >> 65-80 I'm behind you with a call. >> You get a bill on that car. You get a bill on that car. >> 65-85 I'm out. >> 10-4 65-80 >> I'm behind it. I'm going to try and pit maneuver it. >> 10-4 >> Hey, you're okay. Good. You want to let him get out? You're okay. You're okay. Hey, you want to let him get out of there? >> Don't move you [ __ ] worm. KEEP YOUR HANDS UP. >> TAKE YOUR TIME. TAKE YOUR TIME. WE GOT all the time in the world, guys. >> You just stole a cop car. Shut your mouth. Get out of the car. Open the door now. Take your right hand and grab that door handle on the outside. >> crossfire, >> Watch our crossfire. >> Raise your right hand and grab the door handle on the outside. Step out, FACE AWAY. STEP OUT, FACE AWAY. Step [screaming] out and face away. >> Get on the ground. >> Step to your right. Face away. Face away. >> Get on the ground. >> Get on the ground. >> YO, I'LL GO. I'LL GO. I'll go. Gentlemen, I called I called the cops twice. These guys showed up and the I think the cops were false. There's something going on at the Hilltop Loft. I think they're running prostitution. Somebody write this, please. I think they're doing prostitution out there. I accidentally stole the the main guy's car in 2020. >> Put your hands up. >> All right. All right. I think I stole his car in 2020. Anyway, I was up there for the last week. They drugged me and I think they have other people in there. I came out and I was listening to this guy talk and he's like, "Boss, I think this is the guy that stole your car earlier. You want to meet him?" The boss was sitting there asking >> Listen, roll to your right. >> No, I'm scared. I've done this before. All right, here. I This I don't trust her and the guy >> The pursuit eventually came to an end, but the consequences for James were far from over. James was later convicted of burglary of an authorized emergency vehicle, fleeing or attempting to elude, and grand theft of a motor vehicle. In December 2025, he was sentenced to 20 years in Florida state prison. The sentence brought a serious conclusion to an incident that began with a call for medical assistance and ultimately resulted in multiple felony convictions.