Video: Florida man offers police a cocktail during car chase
Body camera footage released by the Highlands County Sheriff's Office shows the suspect offering a drink to officers before he was Tased and taken into custody. (Source: Highlands County Sheriff's Office)
Do not drive under the influence of alcohol.
A Florida man casually offered pursuing officers a cocktail during a car chase after he allegedly stole several items from a nearby store, authorities said.
Highlands County Sheriff's deputies responded to the Spring Lake Market on Saturday after 39-year-old Richard Christopher Smith reportedly stole merchandise, including alcoholic beverages, from the store and left the scene.
Richard Christopher Smith, 39, was pictured offering a drink to Florida sheriffs during a car chase Saturday. (Highlands County Sheriff's Office)
According to the sheriff's office, when deputies arrived, Smith fled in a vehicle, leading to a pursuit.
“During this pursuit, Smith pulled a can of Ketel One vodka out of the window in an attempt to stop a deputy and told him, 'I just wanted to offer you a drink, that's all,'” the sheriff's office said. “It's unclear to us whether he expected us to just say 'Yay!' and let him go, or whether he expected something else.”
The chase ended minutes later in a business parking lot at Sebring Regional Airport.
Richard Christopher Smith is captured on body camera footage being arrested after a car chase with Florida sheriff's deputies. (Highlands County Sheriff's Office)
After his toast, Smith, a Miami resident, attempted to crash into two patrol cars, resulting in all four of his tires being punctured by the studded tires, police said.
According to authorities, he calmly attempted to leave the scene of the incident, surrounded by police, puffing on a cigarette.
“But you guys had fun, huh?” he asked them.
Eventually, right during a smoke break, he was shocked with a taser and detained.
Richard Christopher Smith is seen near his car after a police chase. (Highlands County Sheriff's Office)
Smith is charged with multiple counts of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, battery on a law enforcement officer, two counts of resisting arrest, driving under the influence, refusing to take a breathalyzer test and petit theft.
Bail was set at $120,000.
Sourse: www.foxnews.com
