December 4, 2020
On December 3, 2020 a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Officer (FWC) stopped to assist what appeared to be a disabled vehicle on US Alt 27 near NW 10th Avenue southeast of Chiefland. The driver refused to identify himself to the FWC Officer who noticed the white Kia Sorrento appeared to have crashed and had a flat tire. Further investigation by the FWC Officer discovered the tag attached to the Kia was not assigned to that vehicle. This is when the driver drove away and the FWC Officer began to pursue him.
Levy County Sheriff’s Office Deputies responded to the FWC Officer’s request for assistance and joined in the pursuit on US Alt. 27 as it neared the Town of Bronson. The driver of the fleeing vehicle turned south onto CR 337 and stopped the vehicle in the middle of the road and exited. Both LCSO deputies and the FWC Officer saw what was perceived to be a rifle in the suspect’s hands as he fled on foot. Officers lost sight of the fleeing suspect in the dark.
Within minutes a 911 call was received by LCSO Communications. The caller told dispatchers a man just broke into their home, demanded the keys to their vehicle then fled in their 2008 Pontiac. Deputies quickly located the stolen vehicle and a second pursuit began.
The still unidentified suspect fled south on CR 337 toward Morriston. The suspect made numerous attempts to elude deputies, even driving head on at them on three different occasions. The driver was blocked in by Deputy Williamson on his fourth attempt to turn around and the suspect accelerated into Deputy Williamson’s vehicle, damaging the passenger side of the patrol vehicle. In the suspects’ final attempt to elude deputies, Deputy Williamson was able to pin the suspect in the stolen car by blocking him with his own patrol vehicle.
The suspect continued to refuse commands to surrender and had to be forcefully removed from the car. Deputies identified the suspect as Dante Evan Schmucker (12/26/90) of West Palm Beach, Florida. The investigation revealed the first vehicle he fled in was stolen from Valdosta Georgia. Schmucker has been charged with two counts of grand theft auto, home invasion robbery, two counts of fleeing and attempting to elude law enforcement, aggravated assault, DUI and possession of methamphetamines. He is being held in the Levy County Detention Facility awaiting first appearance.