Pursuit

MOUNT DORA, Fla.—Inside Lake has obtained dash cam footage from the Florida Highway Patrol, capturing the moment a trooper executed a precision immobilization technique (PIT) maneuver to stop a fleeing suspect earlier this year.

Inside Lake first reported in January on the arrest of Corey Michael Wakefield, 21, of St. Cloud. Wakefield was arrested on numerous charges after fleeing from a trooper who attempted to stop him for speeding in what was later found to be a stolen truck.

Around 9 p.m. Jan. 15, the trooper was conducting traffic enforcement on U.S. Highway 441 near Natoma Boulevard in Mount Dora and observed a gray Chevy Silverado traveling 85 miles per hour in a 50 mile per hour zone in the northbound inside lane. The trooper pulled out to stop the truck and it entered the left turn lane for Lincoln Avenue, ran the red light, performed a U-turn and headed southbound, according to an FHP arrest report.

The trooper gave chase and Wakefield blew through the red light at State Road 46 while traffic was actively passing through the intersection; Wakefield continued to flee at speeds of more than 110 miles per hour, entered Orange County and as the pair approached Ola Beach Drive, the trooper executed a PIT (precision immobilization technique) maneuver, flipping the truck onto the north shoulder of U.S. Highway 441, known as Orange Blossom Trail in Orange County.

Wakefield sustained numerous injuries, including a broken foot and a wound on his right hand that was bleeding profusely, the report states. He claimed another man was driving but troopers quickly found out that man is currently serving a prison sentence. Wakefield kept digging in his pockets, ignoring numerous commands from the trooper. Orange County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrived to assist, and upon searching Wakefield, an OCSO deputy found a wallet and a sock that contained his Florida identification card, $337, a debit card in his name, 14 Alprazolam pills commonly known as Xanax, nine Clonazepam pills commonly known as Klonopin, and a white powdery substance later identified as a mixture of cocaine and fentanyl. The 2014 Chevy Silverado Wakefield was driving was found to be stolen out of Lake County last year.

The above video contains explicit language. 

Wakefield was transported to Orlando Regional Medical Center for treatment of his injuries and arrested while he was at the hospital. During an interview, he said “possession” and “that’s the only thing you got,” the report states. A check of Wakefield’s name found his license was revoked more than two years ago and he has multiple warrants out of Maryland, but only with in-state extradition.

Wakefield is facing charges including possession of Alprazolam, Clonazepam and fentanyl; grand theft of a motor vehicle, reckless driving, aggravated fleeing with injury or property damage, resisting without violence, giving false information to a law enforcement officer and driving on a suspended license. He has been held in the Lake County Jail on no bond since his arrest.

MOUNT DORA, Fla.—A St. Cloud man remains jailed on a litany of charges stemming from a pursuit that ended with a PIT maneuver.

Around 9 p.m. Jan.15, a Florida Highway Patrol trooper was conducting speed enforcement on U.S. Highway 441 near Natoma Boulevard in Mount Dora and observed a gray Chevy Silverado traveling 85 miles per hour in a 50 mile per hour zone in the northbound inside lane. The trooper pulled out to stop the truck and it entered the left turn lane for Lincoln Avenue, ran the red light, performed a U-turn and headed southbound, according to an FHP arrest report.

The trooper gave chase and the driver, later identified as Corey Michael Wakefield, 21, blew through the red light at State Road 46 while traffic was actively passing through the intersection; Wakefield continued to flee at speeds of more than 110 miles per hour and entered Orange County. As the pair approached Ola Beach Drive, the trooper executed a PIT (precision immobilization technique) maneuver, flipping the truck onto the north shoulder of U.S. Highway 441, known as Orange Blossom Trail in Orange County.

Wakefield, covered in blood, sustained numerous injuries, including a broken foot and a wound on his right hand that was bleeding profusely, the report states. Wakefield claimed another man was driving but troopers quickly found out that man is in prison until 2026. He kept digging in his pockets, ignoring numerous commands from the trooper. Orange County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrived to assist and set up a perimeter, and upon searching Wakefield, an OCSO deputy found a wallet and a sock that contained his Florida identification card, $337, a debit card in his name, 14 Alprazolam pills commonly known as Xanax, nine Clonazepam pills commonly known as Klonopin, and a white powdery substance later identified as a mixture of cocaine and fentanyl. The 2014 Silverado Wakefield was driving was found to be stolen out of Lake County in December.

Wakefield was transported to Orlando Regional Medical Center for treatment of his injuries and arrested while he was at the hospital. During an interview, he said “possession” and “that’s the only thing you got,” the report states. A check of Wakefield’s name found his license was revoked in December 2022 and he has multiple warrants out of Maryland, but only with in-state extradition.

Alleged relatives of Wakefield showed up at ORMC and claimed a Sorrento man was driving during the pursuit. Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputies traveled to the Sorrento man’s home and verified he was in good health and did not have injuries consistent with a rollover crash.

Wakefield is facing charges including possession of Alprazolam, Clonazepam and fentanyl; grand theft of a motor vehicle, reckless driving, aggravated fleeing with injury or property damage, resisting without violence, giving false information to a law enforcement officer and driving on a suspended license. He is being held in the Lake County Jail on no bond.