POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A routine traffic stop on Tuesday turned into a dramatic chase and multiple arrests when a red Kia Soul with an unsecured load lost a basket onto the roadway near Detour Road and Kokomo Road in Lake Hamilton.
At approximately 4:04 p.m., a Polk County Sheriff’s deputy stopped the Kia after its loose basket fell onto the road. While the deputy removed the basket from the roadway, two passengers fled the vehicle on foot.
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The driver, identified as Joey Crook, 45, of Lake Alfred, remained at the scene.
During the investigation, deputies discovered Crook was in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.
The fleeing passengers were quickly apprehended and identified as Michael Vaughn, 44, of Winter Haven, and Tammy Hood, 55, of Lake Wales.
Crook faces charges of possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. Vaughn was charged with resisting arrest with violence, resisting arrest without violence, and providing false identification to a law enforcement officer.
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Hood was arrested on an outstanding warrant for burglary and grand theft of a motor vehicle.
She also faces new charges of resisting arrest without violence and providing false identification to a law enforcement officer.
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