Lee County man leads deputies on chase with 3 kids in car, caught with drone

LEE COUNTY, Fla. (WINK) — A routine traffic stop in Suncoast Estates turned into a chase through wooded terrain after a driver fled from Lee County deputies, according to the Lee County Sheriff's Office.

Deputies attempted to stop the vehicle after observing the driver without a seatbelt and driving without a visible license plate. The driver reportedly failed to stop, accelerated and led deputies through a wooded area.

The sheriff's office used its newly implemented Drone as a First Responder program to quickly locate and track the vehicle from the air. The drone operator coordinated with road deputies for a safe apprehension.

The driver, identified as 28-year-old Thomas Wehrung III, told deputies he was simply off-roading in his Jeep Grand Cherokee with his family and had no idea he was being pulled over. Three young children, all under the age of 5, were in the vehicle during the incident.

Wehrung was arrested and charged with fleeing and eluding law enforcement and child neglect.