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High-speed stolen car chase ends safely near Bonifay


The Washington and Holmes County sheriff’s offices early Saturday morning helped to end safely a high-speed chase of a stolen vehicle out of the Fort Walton Beach police department

At about 1:13 a.m. Saturday, a Florida Highway Patrolman conducting laser speed enforcement near the 145 mile marker on Interstate 10 in Jackson County saw a dark sedan speeding westbound at what was confirmed by laser to be about 110 mph.

The trooper began his pursuit, with lights on and siren blaring, and caught up to the vehicle about 10 miles further west. The press release from FHP said the Toyota Camry slowed down and appeared to pull into the grass median before it accelerated and sped off westbound on the interstate, at speeds estimated to be between 112 and 128 mph.

The car was determined by FHP to have been stolen out of Fort Walton Beach Police Department. 

The trooper requested help from the Washington and Holmes County Sheriff’s Offices, who then assisted with a safe ending to the pursuit near mile marker 111.

The suspect driver, Tamia Ida Gray, 18, of Fort Walton Beach, was arrested and transported to the Holmes County Jail where she was charged and booked for fleeing or attempting to elude, driving while license suspended or revoked, and issued a citation for speed. 

“We are thankful for the assistance from both Washington and Holmes County Sheriff’s Office (for) a safe and proper ending to the recklessness this driver displayed, a lack of safety for herself or other motorists on the roadway,” reads the FHP release.