A 30-year-old man is arrested only after a police dog searches him out at his home after a high-speed chase.
By STEVE THOMPSON
Published May 13, 2004
NEW PORT RICHEY - After running a red light, a 30-year-old man fled police at speeds of more than 100 mph and was shot with a Taser before he was finally arrested early Tuesday by New Port Richey police.
Christopher John Ranck was driving a 1992 Cadillac on Marine Parkway and rolled through a red light as he turned on U.S. 19 at 2:20 a.m., police reported. Ranck got out of his car and began to walk away after stopping at a parking lot on U.S. 19, the report said.
When Officer Jerry Kirkpatrick told him to stop, Ranck ran back to his car. He drove toward Kirkpatrick, hitting the officer with the sideview mirror as he drove off, the report said.
Kirkpatrick gave chase in his patrol car as Ranck's Cadillac headed north on U.S. 19 and then east on River Gulf Road, the report said. The chase ended on Massachusetts Avenue when the Cadillac slammed into two parked cars, causing substantial damage, the report said.
Ranck got out and ran as Kirkpatrick yelled "stop or I'll use the Taser," the report said. Ranck, ignoring the command, was shot in the "backside" with the Taser's shock-delivering darts but continued running out of sight, the report said.
With the help of a canine, police soon found Ranck at his home on 7421 Donegal St. and arrested him.
Ranck was being held Wednesday in the county jail on $62,000 bail. He faces charges of aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, fleeing to elude police, reckless driving, leaving the scene of a crash and resisting an officer without violence.
Tuesday's chase came only hours after sheriff's deputies chased a wanted 21-year-old Hudson man fleeing through Port Richey at speeds of 80 mph.
Joseph William Humphrey was arrested Monday evening after crashing into a Pasco County Sheriff's Office patrol car and being shot with a Taser by a deputy.
