It was a wild ride for Bay County deputies Saturday morning as an escaped juvenile inmate who was on his way to Teen Court in Panama City led police on a high speed chase through Lynn Haven, and he made away with a deputy's S-U-V.
"For a Saturday morning, everything was peaceful," Richard Holley, a neighbor said.
That’s until 15-year old Matthew Pettis led Bay County deputies on a high speed goose chase.
According to deputies, Pettis was being transported from the Fountain area to Teen Court in Panama City, but he never quite made it.
While in route on U-S 231, the deputy noticed a car accident with no police on scene, and by law he's supposed to assist if no one else is there. That’s when the handcuffed Pettis took off.
"I looked out my window and saw a deputy car coming down the street at a pretty good clip," Holley said.
Pettis led police to 11th street and Carolina Avenue when he ran out of road.
"Instantly another deputy's car comes out an RV wide open, he cuts into my driveway, he's airborne. I can't believe what I'm seeing," Holley said.
The suspect ended up across the street from richard holley's place, he said it was like a scene out of a movie.
"He was in a deputy's car with the lights flashing and I'm wondering who's the bad guy. With another deputy behind him, it was totally disbelief," Holley said.
Pettis ran into a fence and that’s when deputies caught him.
"And in just seconds there were several other police cars and sheriff's department there and the man behind him did an excellent job of getting out and getting under control," Holley said.
Fortunately no one was hurt during the chase. Pettis is back in custody and is facing grand theft, fleeing, and attempting to elude charges.
Matthew Pettis had a previous warrant out of Jackson County and was suppose to appear in Panama City at the State Department of Juvenile Justice.