Port Charlotte driver slams into deputy's car, hides in water to escape

CHARLOTTE COUNTY, FL — A man led deputies on a chase through Port Charlotte before slamming into a patrol vehicle and trying to hide in the water.

According to the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office, the situation unfolded around 10:00 p.m. Monday, May 25, when deputies were searching for a vehicle involved in a hit and run in the District 2 area of Port Charlotte.

When deputies spotted the suspect's black Hyundai SUV, they tried to pull it over using lights and sirens, but the driver refused to stop and sped down Edgewater Drive into the District 3 area.

The vehicle weaved through a Walgreens parking lot, onto US 41/Tamiami Trail southbound, behind a McDonald's and onto Oakley Street before deputies lost sight of it and turned off their emergency lights and sirens.

While deputies continued searching the area, the suspect vehicle ran a stop sign at Church Street at a high speed and slammed into the passenger side of the marked patrol unit, leaving both vehicles unable to move.

The driver, identified as Norvell Johnson III, then took off on foot.

After a tip placed Johnson at the parking garage at Sunseeker Resort, deputies focused on that area and found footprints leading to the water, where they found him lying in the water with only his face visible, apparently trying to hide.

Johnson was taken to a local hospital before being booked into the Charlotte County Jail on charges of driving with a suspended license, failing to stop after a crash and child neglect for having a juvenile in the vehicle during the chase.

Because Johnson is a habitual offender of driving without a license, he is being held without bond.