Press Release
The Office of State Attorney Larry Basford announces that on April 1, 2021, a Bay County jury convicted Chad Thomas Harmon of Fleeing and Eluding a Law Enforcement Officer, Resisting an Officer Without Violence, and Driving While License Suspended, Revoked or Canceled.
Evidence presented at trial proved that on February 16, 2019, Inv. Jacob Roberts with the Bay County Sheriff’s Office initiated a traffic stop on the Defendant, who fled while the officer pursued him with siren and lights activated. The pursuit was cancelled for safety reasons. Since the Defendant fled down a dead-end road, Inv. Roberts waited for back up to arrive and then proceeded down the road locating the Defendant still in his vehicle. He activated the siren and lights again, and the Defendant fled a second time in reverse through a field, bailed out of his car, ran, and hid in vegetation. The Defendant was apprehended a short time later by Inv. Roberts and Dep. Williams.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Barbara Beasley and Amanda Kincaid. Sentencing is scheduled before Circuit Judge Ana Maria Garcia on May 4, 2021. The Defendant qualifies as a Habitual Felony Offender and is facing a maximum of 10 years prison.
For additional information, contact State Attorney Larry Basford.