Body cam video captures moment bees swarm fleeing suspects, FL deputies and K-9s in woods
By: Deputies, K-9s and even fleeing suspects, with ties to West Palm Beach, were attacked by a swarm of bees after a chase led them into the woods.
The Indian River County Sheriff's Office (IRCSO) said on Wednesday morning, FHP attempted a traffic stop on a silver Acura that immediately fled from troopers, eventually entering Indian River County on I-95.
The sheriff's office said multiple units and neighboring agencies were called in to assist in the apprehension of the suspects. The car led deputies on a 20-mile chase, eventually, the car was abandoned near mile marker 11 on State Road 60.
Investigators said three men fled on foot into a densely wooded area off the road.
K-9s were dispatched to search for the trio. K-9 Mako and his handler Deputy Ricardo Ferrer and Corporal Ernesto Macias trudged through thick underbrush and canals with chest-deep mud. Deputies say they were able to find the suspects hiding under palmetto bushes. K-9 Mako was able to get ahold of one of the suspects while the two deputies secured the others.
The sheriff's office said while the three men were being placed in handcuffs, a swarm of bees descended down onto the group.
Videos, provided by the sheriff's office, show deputies and suspects flailing to get the bees away from them. At one point, a deputy had to brush the bees off of one of the suspects since he was handcuffed.
IRCSO said after searching the three suspects, they were able to find the keys to the Acura, marijuana and live ammunition. The three men were promptly arrested and taken to the county jail.
20-year-old Joel N. Brown, 22-year-old Markaveli J. Butler, and 15-year-old Jacques Snow, are from the West Palm Beach area. The sheriff's office said no one sustained serious injuries from the bee stings. The suspect whom K-9 Mako apprehended did not sustain serious wounds.
Investigators said the three men face local felony charges of fleeing/eluding, as well as, resisting arrest without violence. Butler, whose bond is $5,000, is also being held on an Immigration and Customs detainer and an active felony warrant out of Hillsborough County. Brown has been released from the county jail after posting his $55,000 bond.