Ja’Darrius Dawayne Russaw was convicted of Fleeing to Elude a Law Enforcement Officer at High Speed with Wanton Disregard, Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Driving While License Suspended or Revoked. The jury returned the verdict this afternoon following a two-day trial in Lee County. The defendant was also found in violation of probation for a previous case.
Assistant State Attorney Emma Thomas and Assistant State Attorney Steven Vitale prosecuted the case.
The crime happened on May 16, 2025. A Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) Trooper was traveling in a marked patrol vehicle on SR-82, near Sunshine Blvd. in Lee County, when an SUV drove past traveling at approximately 80 mph, in a posted 55 mph zone.
The trooper made a u-turn to conduct a traffic stop on the SUV, but the SUV then accelerated faster. Though lights and sirens were activated, the SUV began traveling at speeds over 100 mph. The SUV narrowly missed hitting other vehicles and eventually drove off the road, just before almost colliding with a car near 23rd St. SW. The SUV then ran over a median, hit a street sign, and a palm tree. This stopped the vehicle, but the driver was making contact with the controls to possibly attempt to flee, so the trooper used his patrol vehicle, to collide with the SUV, to stop the pursuit.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene to assist.
The defendant was the driver and the sole occupant of the vehicle. He did not want to exit the vehicle and then pretended to have a seizure and pretended to be unconscious. But then reacted to detainment and asked questions. He was taken into custody and to the hospital as a precaution.
The vehicle, which was a rental, was searched and a plastic bag containing cocaine was found in the center cup holder. The defendant was also driving without a valid driver’s license.
Sentencing is scheduled for April 29, 2026.
Samantha Syoen – State Attorney’s Office Communications Director