NEED TO KNOW
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The Washington County Sheriff’s Office began to pursue Albert Searcy’s vehicle on Highway 79 in Florida after his daughter called 911 to report that her parents were fighting
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After a deputy turned on his emergency lights in hopes of pulling the car over and conducting a traffic stop, Albert allegedly jumped from the moving vehicle and left his family without a driver
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Heather Searcy was able to take control of the car and get herself and the couple’s three children to safety
A man is recovering behind bars after jumping out of his vehicle while driving on the highway in Florida earlier this week.
Albert Searcy, 46, and his family were driving down Highway 79 on Nov. 10 on their way back to Louisiana, according to the the Washington County Sheriff’s Office in Florida.
They were moving back to Louisiana after briefly living in the Florida Panhandle, the family’s matriarch Heather later told deputies.
At some point during that drive, the couple’s daughter reported in a 911 call that Heather and Albert were fighting, the WCSO said. That 911 call was abruptly disconnected.
Deputies were immediately dispatched to the area to locate the vehicle.
Washington County Sheriff’s Office
Albert Searcy
Once a deputy spotted the car, he activated his emergency lights and began pursuing the vehicle to conduct a traffic stop, according to the WCSO.
The vehicle did not stop though, according to the WCSO, and after both the deputy and the vehicle drove a short distance, the deputy watched as the “driver opened the driver’s door and jumped from the moving vehicle,” the WCSO said.
At that point, the WCSO said that the deputy was able to stop his vehicle and make contact with Albert, who suffered a severe case of road rash on his face, as seen in his mugshot.
Albert managed to avoid a potentially fatal fall — but his family was still in danger as his wife and their three minor children were now traveling on the highway in a car without a driver, according to the WCSO.
The WCSO said a potential disaster was averted when quick-thinking Heather crawled over the console and took control of the vehicle.
Deputies who later arrived at the scene to interview Heather “observed signs consistent with a physical altercation, including apparent injuries to face,” according to the WCSO.
During that interview, Heather alleged that she had asked her husband to “stop the vehicle and allow her and the children to exit,” but he repeatedly refused that request, according to the WCSO.
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During the fight, their daughter called 911 from the backseat, the WCSO said. Heather told deputies that her husband allegedly struck their daughter and took the phone after realizing she’d called for help.
All five family members were then examined at the scene by medical services and cleared, according to the WCSO.
Albert remains in custody and is currently facing charges of: tampering with or harassing a witness, domestic violence battery, fleeing or attempting to elude a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest without violence, child abuse, false imprisonment and driving while license suspended or revoked.
Albert has yet to appear in court as of Nov. 12, so no bail has been set for him.
If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
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