At approximately 3:15 p.m., deputies attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle at the Three Rivers Apartments in Marianna. Instead of stopping, the driver fled, leading deputies on a pursuit that traveled from Lafayette Street in Marianna to west of Cottondale, Florida. During the pursuit, the suspect’s actions put citizens’ lives in danger.
The pursuit ended when the driver crashed the vehicle. The driver, Steven Wayne Baxter, was identified and taken into custody without further incident.
During the investigation, deputies located a firearm and multiple narcotics inside the vehicle.
Baxter was charged with:
• Aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement with lights and sirens activated
• Trafficking in methamphetamine (over 28 grams)
• Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon
• Possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony
Additional charges are pending as the investigation continues.
“High-speed pursuits put everyone on the road at risk,” said Sheriff Edenfield. “Our top priority is protecting the community, and we will continue to take action against those who endanger others by fleeing from law enforcement.”
