On November 6, 2024, a Lake County K-9 unit attempted to conduct a traffic stop while patrolling the area of Lake Minneola Shores Drive. The deputy recognized the driver, as he was familiar with him from previous law enforcement encounters, as the defendant Brandyn Smith. The deputy determined that the attached license plate was not assigned to the vehicle, the vehicle was unregistered, and the defendant had a suspended license. The defendant began to take evasive actions when the deputy activated his blue lights, and the vehicle was not pursued. The deputy was able to positively identify the driver and a warrant for his arrest was completed. On November 7, the deputy responded to the Lake County Courthouse, where the defendant was scheduled to attend regarding his history of evading arrest, and the deputy was scheduled to testify. While at the courthouse, the defendant was taken into custody and transported to the Lake County Jail. Deputies then responded to the public parking garage, located the vehicle the defendant fled in, and secured the vehicle to be processed post a search warrant. While waiting for a tow truck, Briana Watson approached deputies with keys to the vehicle and advised that she was asked to take the vehicle for Smith when he was arrested. Watson was determined to have an active Lake County warrant for theft and was also taken into custody.
