‘Prolific Offender’ Captured After Sarasota Chase: Deputies

SARASOTA, FL — It all began with an unpaid bar tab at Miller’s Ale House. It ended in the arrest of a 29-year-old man Sarasota County Sheriff’s deputies say is very “well-known to law enforcement.”

The incident that led to Jacob Davis’ arrest on multiple charges began to unfold around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday night. The sheriff’s office says its deputies were called out to the 2800 Kenny Drive establishment after a man left without paying a $26.50 bar tab. Deputies arrived just as the man accused of the crime left the parking lot, headed north on Cattlemen Road.

Deputies gave chase with help provided by the sheriff’s office’s aviation unit. The road deputies pursued Davis, “until he reached dangerous speeds and then cancelled pursuit for the safety of other citizens,” the sheriff’s office wrote in an email to media.

The aviation unit, however, kept an eye from the sky on Davis as he allegedly drove “recklessly” through Lake Sarasota and into the Gator Creek Golf Club. Taking cues from the aviation unit, patrol deputies placed stop sticks at two different locations in the golf club.

“The stop sticks were successful, however Davis still managed to make his way to the front of the community, driving with flat tires until he crashed into the exit gate," the sheriff's office wrote. "When deputies made contact with Davis, he rammed his vehicle into a patrol cruiser several times before complying.”

Davis now faces DUI, refusal to submit to a breath test, two counts of property damage, theft, aggravated fleeing to elude, failure to register a motor vehicle and violation of probation for trafficking in stolen property charges, the sheriff’s office said. His previous arrests include burglary, theft, drug possession and dealing in stolen property.

Davis was booked into the Sarasota County Jail. He remained there Wednesday without bond.

Booking photo and video courtesy of the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office