A wild and dangerous police chase through two counties ended Thursday with a suspect stunned with a stun gun and a police officer hurt.

  • Melbourne officer swerved to avoid spike strips, crashed
  • Fleeing driver swerved in traffic, reached speeds over 100 mph, cops say
  • Jonathan Davis of Cocoa faces several attempted murder charges

The officer was trying to avoid spike strips strewn across U.S. 1 by a fellow officer in an effort to stop a fleeing driver.

"I looked behind me, and there's the white Mustang coming, ramming speed, up behind me. The Melbourne officer waved to the side, so I shot over to the side," said motorist David Gray, who witnessed part of the chase. "The next thing I see spike strips being thrown out."

According to police, the chase began at a Sebastian Home Depot in Indian River County, some 25 miles away, and then was picked up by Brevard County Sheriff's deputies in the Micco area.

Melbourne Police joined in near Babcock Street and University Boulevard, leading them through downtown Melbourne, and then onto U.S. 1 northbound, where officers used spike strips to puncture the car's two front tires.

A trailing officer swerved to avoid it, skidded some 100 feet and then crashed into a ditch. He was taken to a hospital but is expected to be OK.

Moments after speeding by Gray, the Ford Mustang was stopped by Melbourne Police using a PIT maneuver. Inside the car, investigators said, was 24-year-old Jonathan Davis of Cocoa.

"He didn't look like he was going to get out of the car at all. He wasn't peaceful. He didn't look like a nice guy," Gray said.

"He provided a struggle to officers, at which time a Taser was utilized," said Officer Brittany Skovsgard of the Melbourne Police Department.

Investigators said Davis was swerving in and out of traffic, crossing over medians and driving erratically, sometimes reaching speeds of more than 100 mph.

Ann Barbera encountered him as she drove up U.S. 1 to work and was nearly knocked off the road into the Indian River.

"I was hoping he was caught before he got into heavier traffic," she said.

Officers said they found methamphetamines inside the suspect’s car. Davis is being charged with several counts of attempted murder of law enforcement officers for swerving at them during the chase.


The pursuit began in Palm Bay with a Brevard County Sheriff’s deputy following a suspect in a white Mustang. (Melbourne Police Department)