Man attempts escape from Starke Police Department
Monitor Editor
STARKE— A 31-year-old Keystone Heights man tried to break out of Starke police headquarters after being told he was under arrest.
Johnathan Joseph Brooker was arrested for battery, possession of a weapon by a felon, resisting and officer, possession of drugs and escape.
According to an arrest report, arresting officer Michael P. Gillick was patrolling on U.S. 301 around 2:43 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 18.
Gillick wrote that he saw a silver, Ford four-door make a sudden lane change on the highway, causing another vehicle to slam on its brakes to avoid a collision.
“The vehicle then made a sudden right turn onto Edwards Road,” wrote the officer. “Immediately following the westbound turn the vehicle turned sharply into the Community State Bank parking lot.”
Gillick wrote that the driver and Brooker, who was the passenger, were nervous to the point that the driver was shaking as she spoke to the officer.
“As a result of the extremely nervous behavior exhibited by both Brooker and (the driver), I requested Officer (Frank) Krol and K9 Ric to conduct an open-air sniff of the exterior of the vehicle,” Gillick wrote. “Officer Krol advised me that K9 Ric had alerted to the presence of illegal narcotics.”
Gillick added that officers discovered a metal box under the passenger seat of the vehicle with 1.3 grams of methamphetamine, six 0.380 caliber bullets and a chrome .380 semi-automatic handgun. Officers also found $764 of currency on the defendant’s person.
“The driver and passenger of the vehicle both stated they had just left the America Best Value Hotel,” Gillick wrote. “”Due to the fact that both parties denied ownership of the firearm and Meth, a review of the camera footage of the Best Value Inn was conducted. The footage clearly showed Brooker exiting a room and entering the silver Ford four-door carrying the metal box…”
Gillick wrote that Brooker has five felony convictions.
Lt. Michael Rooney wrote in a supplemental report that while at the Starke Police Department, he told Brooker that he was going to be placed under arrest.
“Shortly after I advised Brooker he was under arrest he jumped out of his seat and ran for the exit stating: “I’m out of here, y’all are going to have to kill me,” Rooney wrote. “I closed distance with Brooker and made contact with him in the patrol room at which time I grasped him around the torso from behind and redirected him face-first to the ground with the assistance of Officer Gillick.”
Rooney added that while on the ground, the defendant attempted to bite his forearm.
“I delivered several closed-fist strikes to the body to prevent from getting bit,” he wrote.
After being medically cleared at a hospital, Brooker was transported to the Bradford County Jail.
Photo: Brooker
