BONIFAY – A Graceville man was sentenced to 20 years in prison Wednesday for stealing an SUV, ramming a responding Holmes County Sheriff’s Deputy, and leading deputies on a high-speed chase four days after being released from prison, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.
Tyler Wayne Hutto, 34, pled to Aggravated Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer (with a deadly weapon), Resisting an Officer with Violence, Aggravated Battery with a Deadly Weapon, Grand Theft of a Motor Vehicle, Grand Theft, Criminal Mischief, Fleeing or Attempting to Elude (High Speed Reckless), and Possession of Less than 20 grams of Marijuana. Circuit Court Judge Russell Roberts adjudicated Hutto guilty on all charges and sentenced him to 20 years in prison.
Holmes County Chief Prosecutor Jacob Cook said the defendant’s history includes 4 previous prison sentences dating back to 2012. The most recent was a 3-year sentence for Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer. He was released from prison on January 10, 2026, and was arrested on the current charges on January 14, 2026.
“We take a hard line on offenders who have been recently released from prison, and if Mr. Hutto wishes to continue the same conduct once he gets his freedom back 20 years down the road he will go to prison for a 6th time,” stated Prosecutor Cook.
Cook was prepared to call witnesses and present evidence proving that defendant stole an SUV and attached trailer, tried to run over the owner, struck a patrol deputy’s vehicle, and then fled at speeds nearing 130 mph.
Testimony would have shown that on January 14 the Holmes County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a stolen SUV. The owner said the defendant took the vehicle, and an attached 12-foot trailer from his residence.
The defendant was fleeing from that residence when Deputy J. Thomas spotted him and recognized the vehicle as being reported stolen. The defendant saw the deputy and left the roadway. The deputy tried to block him, but the driver of the stolen SUV struck the front side of his marked patrol vehicle.
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The deputy’s knee was injured in the collision, but he was able to pursue the defendant west on Highway 2 toward State 79. The deputy said speeds averaged between 70 mph and 130 mph during the pursuit with the defendant driving recklessly. Deputy Thomas performed a “PIT” (Precision Immobilization Technique), causing the SUV to leave the roadway. The defendant attempted to flee again but Deputy Thomas and Sgt. Curtis French boxed him in and removed him from the vehicle. The defendant continued to resist and was tazed before deputies were able to take him into custody.
Basford thanked the Holmes County Sheriff’s Office for its handling of the incident and safe apprehension of the defendant.
For more information, contact Mike Cazalas at mike.cazalas@sa14.fl.gov, or call 850-381-7454.