Deputies want charges against driver after 2 high-speed chases

Putnam County Sheriff's Office photo of James Lewis

PUTNAM COUNTY, Fla. – Deputies are seeking an arrest warrant against a 21-year-old Melrose resident after they say he led them on two high-speed chases and held a passenger against her will Saturday night.

Deputies said they are requesting warrants for James Daniel Lewis for two counts of fleeing and attempting to elude an officer, one count of false imprisonment, one count of driving on a suspended or revoked driver's license and one count of resisting an officer without violence.

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The incident began about 8 p.m. Saturday when Deputy Nicholas Vieira spotted a 2000 Mazda southbound on State Road 21. The car veered into Vieira's lane, almost hitting the patrol car. Vieira said he could see two people inside the car as he turned on his emergency lights and siren in an attempt to stop the driver, later identified as Lewis.

The car turned on Orange Lane, a dirt road and accelerated to a speed over 100 mph. Lewis then turned off his headlights. Because of darkness and a cloud of dust from the dirt road, Vieira called off the pursuit, deputies said.

More than three hours later, Vieira spotted the Mazda again at the Kangaroo convenience store at SR 20 and SR 21. Vieira pulled up behind the vehicle and ordered Lewis out. As Lewis slammed the car into gear, Vieira attempted to pull him out, but he sped away. Another pursuit began with the Mazda traveling through a residential area in excess of 70 mph before again turning on a dirt road and turning out the headlights. For a second time, Vieira was forced to end the pursuit because of darkness, a cloud of dust and concern for citizens in the residential area. Vieira learned from the car owner that Lewis was the driver.

A Hawthorne woman contacted Vieira on Sunday and reported that she had been a passenger in the Mazda during the first pursuit the night before. She said that she attempted to talk Lewis into stopping but he refused and also refused to let her out of the car. She finally escaped when Lewis stopped at the Kangaroo store where the second pursuit began, she said. The false imprisonment charge sought against Lewis stems from not letting the woman out of the car.

Lewis has not yet been located but arrest warrants are being sought, deputies said.