MARION COUNTY, Fla. – A cross-county high-speed chase through part of Central Florida that ended with a crash was followed by a barrage of bullets from law enforcement. The chase happened in February, but News 6 has learned the details now after a public records request.
Authorities said it all started after the driver, James Leroy Marker, was accused of firing shots at the Sabal Trail Transmission Pipeline in Marion County to protest it from being built.
Now, the Florida Highway Patrol has released dashcam video that captured the chase.
It was just before 10 a.m. on Feb. 26 when, the video shows, a white pickup truck whizzed past Trooper Nicholas Dolan on Highway 41 in Floral City, Citrus County. Dolan is seen chasing after the truck, with sirens and lights flashing.
But the truck doesn't stop, even though some of its tires are blown.
Police said they believe the man behind the wheel of truck is James Marker, an environmentalist accused of firing a rifle almost 100 times at the Sabal Pipeline, as well as construction equipment in Dunnellon.
Less than a minute after spotting the speeding truck, Dolan catches up to it, knocks it with his patrol car and sends it crashing into a fence.
Dolan then steps out of his car and yells commands to the driver to get down. But nothing happens, until a wave of gunfire is heard.
Authorities said three Citrus County deputies and Dolan fired up to 58 shots, hitting Marker 12 times. Marker is found dead with a pistol, and then, Dolan is heard crying. Citrus County deputies thank Dolan for protecting them.
"You saved our lives, man, thank you,” one is heard saying.
Authorities said the Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigation into the incident cleared the trooper and deputies of any wrongdoing.