Wild Chase Ends with Arrest of Underwear-Clad Suspect

A Palm Harbor man faces multiple charges in connection with a dramatic chain of events that authorities say began with a hit and run Wednesday morning, and ended with the arrest of John Michael Lyons, 33, in his underwear.

Shortly before 7 a.m., deputies responded to a report of a hit-and-run near the Dunedin Causeway drawbridge. Arvia "Michael" Travelsead told authorities a red Hummer rear-ended his 2006 Ford truck while he was parked off the road. Travelsead, a foreman for Roland Inc., was near the drawbridge doing paperwork. He was not injured in the crash.

Deputies spotted the 2006 Hummer H3 shortly thereafter on Bayshore Boulevard near San Jose Drive. They attempted to pull it over, but the driver, John Michael Lyons of Palm Harbor, 33, fled. He led deputies on a chase onto Hancock Street (just north of Weaver Park), over neighbor's bushes, back onto Bayshore Boulevard, onto Curlew Road toward County Road 1 and eventually onto the causeway. Deputies tried to use stop sticks, but the Lyons continued. He narrowly missed hitting a deputy at one point, authorities report. The suspect reached speeds of 55 mph and attempted to "ram" deputies off the road several times during the chase, authorities report.

Deputies pursued the vehicle back to the causeway, where they say he crashed into the gated entrance of . They were able to stop it after it attempted to drive toward Curlew Road again.

A witness said the Hummer was stopped using a tactical maneuver that caused it to crash into a wooden utility pole in front of the entrance of . The pole appeared snapped, but was still standing upright.

Richard Morrison, a witness who lives in nearby Royal Stewart Arms, said the man was cuffed immediately as he got out of the Hummer.

The suspect did not appear to be wearing pants or shoes when he was escorted from the Sheriff's cruiser to be transported. Deputies report that he was wearing boxer shorts and a T-shirt. The chilly weather prompted many witnesses to wear heavy jackets.

Deputies retrieved oxycodone, morphine and eight syringes from inside his vehicle. Lyons said he was planning on fishing from the causeway, authorities report, but no fishing tackle was found in his vehicle.

Deputies carried what appeared to be a brown shoe and small clear bag containing other evidence from the vehicle.

Lyons was arrested on charges of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, attempted murder of a law enforcement officer and other charges, authorities report.

Progress Energy workers were on scene to replace the pole.

The investigation is ongoing.