A Bonifay man led deputies on a vehicle pursuit early this morning.
On June 12th, 2025, at approximately 12:00 a.m., Washington County Sheriff’s Deputies conducted a traffic stop on a GMC Yukon for a traffic violation. After contacting the driver, 24-year-old, Tavares Jerome De’Shaun Ward, deputies detected the odor of marijuana coming from inside of the vehicle. A department issued K9 was deployed and immediately gave a positive alert to the odor of narcotics emanating from the vehicle.
Ward, who was the sole occupant of the vehicle, was asked to exit, at which time he rolled the windows up and locked the doors. Ward refused to exit the vehicle, after being given multiple lawful orders. Ward then placed the GMC Yukon in drive and sped away from the traffic stop.
The two deputies on scene returned to their patrol cars, activated their sirens, and attempted to stop the fleeing suspect. The GMC Yukon turned on multiple roads, attempting to elude and evade deputies at high rates of speeds.
Ward veered onto the shoulder of the road and lost control of the vehicle driving high on an embankment and then appeared to be unable to correct the vehicle. The vehicle crossed over to the opposite side of the road, drove through a yard, striking a tree and overturned. Contrary to social media comments, at no point did WCSO deputies come in contact with Ward’s vehicle or perform a PIT maneuver on Ward’s vehicle.
WCSO deputies went to the crashed vehicle and immediately began providing lifesaving efforts until WC EMS arrived, by performing CPR on Ward who was not wearing a seat belt.
During the incident, deputies located a firearm in Ward’s waistband and an uncapped scalpel in Ward’s pocket. It was later determined the firearm was reported stolen from Jackson County, FL.
Ward is not new to his involvement with law enforcement and has had several encounters since 2019.
June 11, 2019—arrested for Battery Domestic Violence
August 14, 2019—arrested for violation of probation for domestic violence
June 11, 2020—arrested for possession of Drug Paraphernalia
August 17, 2021—arrested for discharge of a firearm in public and improper exhibition of a firearm
January 18, 2022—arrested for possession of controlled substances, possession of drug paraphernalia, burglary of structure, petit theft, and trespassing
February 19, 2024— arrested for grand theft of firearm, Armed burglary of structure, and dealing in stolen property
February 19.2024—arrested for no valid driver’s license
January 9, 2025—arrested for battery
January 10, 2025—2 counts of cruelty toward a child without great bodily harm, Aggravated Assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill, Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. In this case, Ward actually fired several rounds inside the home of his girlfriend, all while a teenager was present in the home and holding a small child.
At the time Ward chose to flee law enforcement, he was out on a $60k bond for the January 10, 2025, cases.
Again, Ward was transported to a local hospital where he remains in critical condition.
Sheriff Crews stated, “I absolutely stand with my deputies in trying to keep our community safe and I am very thankful no other injuries were sustained. We regret that Ward took these actions and are truly sorry for him and his family.”
