OKEECHOBEE — On Thursday, March 19, Sergeant Cauley with Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office responded to a welfare check on 46-year-old James Durrance. A BOLO (Be on the Lookout) had been issued for James because he had not been seen by family or friends for several days and there was concern for his well being due to his reported substance abuse issues.

Sgt. Cauley located James driving a gray Ford F150 at the stop sign of Southwest Seventh Avenue and State Road 70 West. Sgt. Cauley got directly behind the truck and activated his emergency lights in an attempt to stop the vehicle and conduct the welfare check but the vehicle continued on without stopping.

According to the arrest affidavit Cauley then activated his vehicle’s emergency sirens, and with the help of additional police units in the area, attempted to box the F150 in. This attempt failed as James was able to maneuver around the marked patrol cars and accelerate to a high rate of speed, turning north onto Northwest Third Avenue and then onto US Highway 441 North.

Sgt. Cauley continued to pursue the vehicle until at one point James waved his arm out the window which Cauley believed meant that he wanted him to pull next to him. When Cauley pulled up next to James’ driver’s side window he asked James to stop so that he could speak with him, at which time James allegedly told Sgt. Cauley to “Back the **** off”. He then accelerated northbound once again.

Cauley continued to follow Jame’s vehicle and as they approached the 3000 block of US 441 James allegedly slammed his breaks intentionally to get Sgt. Cauley to crash his patrol car into him. For this reason, Cauley let the vehicle go but relayed James’ tag information to dispatch.

Later on Cauley received an anonymous tip that James was located at an address on the 1000 block of Southwest Seventh Avenue. Once his vehicle was confirmed at the location Cauley and several other deputies approached the property and set up a perimeter.

While Cauley was speaking with the property owner he heard the sound of a taser and another deputy yelling commands. He ran around the back of the residence and found Deputy Wright kneeling near James. Deputy Wright had deployed the agency issued taser and was able to secure James in wrist restraints.

James Durrance was arrested and charged with fleeing and eluding law enforcement with lights & sirens, assault on an officer/firefighter/EMT, driving while license suspended with knowledge and resisting arrest without violence.

Bond was set at $32,500.