A Florida man, who led Manatee County Sheriff’s deputies on a high-speed chase, had an interesting explanation once he was apprehended: He was not the driver.
It was his dog.
At roughly 7:45 p.m. October 7, Reliford Cooper III, 26, raced along streets, running stop signs as he led a deputy chasing him. Cooper went too fast while making a turn, ran into a ditch, wheeled the other way, and landed in another ditch. He then allegedly drove into a home, which finally halted his adventure and caused him to exit the car and started running.
K9 units arrived, and a perimeter was created as deputies searched for Cooper, ultimately cornering him near a church after churchgoers forced Cooper outside.
After Cooper lambasted police, snapping, “Who was chasing me? You’re slow as ****!,” he informed a deputy, who allegedly smelled alcohol and pot on Cooper, “My dog was driving that car. I ran because I wanted to. You ain’t gonna find no drugs or guns on me.”
After that feeble excuse, Cooper became nauseous and complained of neck pains.
There was no dog found in the car; Cooper was taken to Manatee Memorial then taken to jail.