MEDIA RELEASE
Date: January 19, 2012
Time: 10:45 AM
On January 18, 2012 the Levy County Sheriff's Office received a call that a subject driving a gray truck left the scene of a hit and run accident. The caller stated that the subject was last seen traveling west on County Road 316 and he was driving erratic.
Major Sullivan and Lt Mullins were in the area and began looking for the subject at the intersection of SR-121 and Highway 41. The subject was seen driving a gray Nissan Titan truck with front end damage from the crash and he made an illegal U-turn in front of deputies. The subject proceeded south on SR-121 from Williston and when the subject saw Sgt. Wells he made another U-turn at Williston Airport road. I activated my emergency lights in an attempt to stop him. The subject refused to pull over and sped up to speeds of 75mph with Sgt Wells directly behind the subject with his emergency lights and siren activated. The subject continued southbound on SR-121 and was weaving all over the road and we feared that the driver may possibly cause a head on collision.
The subject prior to reaching the intersection of SR-121/41 came to an abrupt stop and shot deputies a "Bird". The subject continued to reach in the seat with his right hand and he was ordered at gun point to show his hands and get out of the truck. The subject refused to exit the truck but finally reach out the driver's window and shoot us the bird with both hands. The subject is a very large man (6'02", 300lbs) and he had to be physically removed from the vehicle and he resisted arrest with violence. The subject had to be restrained with two pair of handcuffs and he was arrested for fleeing and attempting to elude a police officer and resisting arrest with violence. The Florida Highway Patrol investigated the traffic crash and there were no reports of any injuries.
The subject was later identified as Roy Thomas Willard, 62 from Morriston. Upon arriving at the jail Willard apologized to Sgt. Wells for his actions.
Defendant:
Roy Thomas Willard
13750 SE 54th Street
Morriston, Fl.
W/M, 12/9/1949
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Major Evan Sullivan
Levy County Sheriff's Office
FBI-National Academy 183rd Session
Office: 352-486-5446
Cell: 352-577-4218