Man’s Flight From Cops Leaves 2 People Injured

TARPON SPRINGS, FL — A 44-year-old Holiday man faces a long list of criminal charges after Tarpon Springs Police say a routine traffic stop Tuesday afternoon took a few wild turns. According to police, Christopher Charles Milland fled from officers, caused a crash that left two people injured and fled again before finally being brought into custody.

The case against Milland began to unfold just before 5 p.m. April 11 when Detective Derek Anderson tried to stop a red 2014 Mitsubishi that had committed a traffic infraction in the area of Tarpon and Ring avenues, an email from the police department said. When Anderson flipped on the lights and siren of his unmarked police SUV, Milland is accused of making an abrupt turn onto Grosse Avenue, running the stop sign at Lemmon Street and then turning onto Lime.

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“As this point, due to the speeds of the vehicle and running stop signs in a neighborhood, Det. Anderson terminated the attempt to stop the vehicle,” the email said. Anderson called out the pursuit’s end on his radio and let other officers know the description of the vehicle and its last known direction.

Just a few blocks away from where Anderson ended the chase, police say Milland tried to get onto U.S. 19 at Lime Street. Milland, however, struck the back right quarter panel of a Toyota Highlander that was in the southbound lane. The impact, police wrote, caused the Toyota to flip onto its side. While the passenger of the Toyota went to the hospital with minor injuries and the driver also suffered minor injuries, police say Milland kept on going. As emergency crews worked the accident, which forced a brief closing of southbound U.S. 19, Anderson kept looking for the red Mitsubishi.

It was around 5:21 p.m. as Anderson was driving down Carolina Avenue, off Klosterman Road, that he spotted the vehicle stopped near a home in the 1900 block of Carolina Avenue. The Mitsubishi was still running, but heavily damaged. Police say there was one person inside: Christopher Milland.

Anderson ordered Milland out of the vehicle, but he refused, the email noted. At that point, Anderson opened the door and began to remove Milland from the car. Milland, the email said, began to fight.

“During the altercation, Det. Anderson deployed his Taser,” the email said. Milland reportedly told Anderson that he was “done.” As Anderson tried once again to bring Milland into custody, police say he began to struggle with the officer once more.

Milland was ultimately brought into custody when backup arrived. Police say Milland had to receive medical clearance from the hospital before being booked into the Pinellas County Jail.

Milland now faces aggravated fleeing to elude, reckless driving, leaving the scene of an accident with injuries, battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest with violence and other charges. He was also wanted on a warrant out of Pasco County.

Milland was being held in the Pinellas County Jail as of Wednesday morning. Police have not identified the driver or passenger of the Highlander who suffered minor injuries in the crash.

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Booking photo courtesy of the Pinellas County Jail