A man who grabbed a Panama City police officer by the wrist and tried to hold on while fleeing a traffic stop is set to be sentenced on four charges April 6 following his bench trial Tuesday, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.
Travis Waylon Franks, 42, who listed a Mississippi address, chose a bench trial rather than a jury trial, meaning Circuit Court Judge Dustin Stephenson heard and decided the case. Prior to the start of the trial, Franks entered pleas of no contest to three related charges – Fleeing or Attempting to Elude, Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer, and Driving Under the Influence.
That left the Aggravated Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer charge – a second-degree felony that carries a minimum-mandatory 3-year sentence. Judge Stephenson heard from two Panama City police officers and the defendant before finding the defendant guilty.
“People like this defendant who put officers’ lives in danger and subsequently put every other driver on the road in danger will face consequences,” Walters said. “This officer was just doing his job and our office will continue to assist them in doing it safely.”
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Walters was prepared to call witnesses and present evidence that on May 10, 2025, the defendant fled from a traffic stop that had turned into a DUI investigation and grabbed the officer who was trying to get him out of his car as he fled. The defendant fled onto 23rd Street and onto U.S. 231, where Bay County sheriff’s deputies and Florida Highway Patrol troopers took turns continuing the pursuit. It ended off Star Avenue when the defendant was trapped on a dead-end road.
Because of his pleas to three of the charges, the trial focused on what happened at the initial stop.
Panama City Police Officer Matthew Cosme testified he was on patrol and saw the defendant driving the wrong way, without his lights on, near Bayview Avenue and 12th Street. He made a traffic stop and bodycam showed him asking the defendant, who appeared to be under the influence, for his driver’s license and registration.
Cosme twice asked the defendant to get out of the car, but he refused and kept his door locked. Cosme reached in to try and unlock the door and the defendant grabbed him by the wrist, revved the engine and pulled him toward the vehicle.
Cosme drew his taser and was able to pull free as the defendant sped away.
The defendant testified he was not trying to hurt anyone, wasn’t under the influence, didn’t hit the police officer and stopped on his own at the end of the chase.
On cross-examination, Walters questioned that.
“About an hour ago you pled no contest to that charge, so I’m a little confused,” Walters said of the defendant’s claim he didn’t hit the officer trying to unlock his door.
“Oh, I see where you’re going with this,” the defendant replied.
He then agreed he had admitted to hitting the officer, being under the influence and fleeing.
Basford thanked the Panama City Police Department for its proactive patrolling and the Bay County Sheriff’s Office and Florida Highway Patrol for their quick response to assist.
For more information, contact Mike Cazalas at mike.cazalas@sa14.fl.gov, or call 850-381-7454.