MANATEE COUNTY (WSNN) – Quick action by Manatee County Sheriff’s deputies saves a life.
“Instead of us trying to take him to jail, now we’re just trying to convince him that his life is worth something,” Detective Tyler Ackerman said.
It began as a traffic stop early Saturday morning in Manatee County. On his way home from work, Deputy Jacob Merrill saw a reckless driver swerving eastbound on SR 64 near Cypress Creek Blvd. So, he tried to pull him over, flashed his lights and the passenger got out of the car. Deputy Merrill did too. Deputies say, As he did, the driver, Scott Rapson, zoomed towards the deputy attempting to run him over.
“You’re afraid for your life at that point,” DeputyJacob Merrill said. “You don’t have any barriers, there’s a truck that’s driving at you, you’re concerned for your safety; you’re concerned for the citizens that were around.”
That’s when Rapson fled the scene and a car pursuit began. He sped towards the Skyway Bridge traveling 60 to 90 miles an hour, with two shredded tires and deputies on his tail.
At that point the helicopter unit took over allowing the deputies to shut down I-275. But then, Rapson stopping on the bridge and stepped out of his car, putting his legs over the barrier of the bridge.
Detectives had to switch gears from trying to arrest this man to try to save his life. It all became a very delicate scenario.
“I was telling him, ‘hey you don’t have to do this, let’s talk about it, at one point,” Detective John Jones said. “There’s not a whole lot you can say to him. You just have to keep him calm and distracted until you can make other movements to get around.”
When Rapson’s got a phone call from his mom, Detective Ackerman says he knew that what his moment to act.
“In my head, it’s not only thinking about how close I have to get to him, but what happens if I don’t do it the right way?” Detective Ackerman said. “What if I don’t get my arms around him completely? This could fall on me, it could fall on the Sheriff’s office.”
Detective Ackerman pulled Rapson back to safety.
“Everything that they did was exceptional, was heroic, and I’m so proud of them,” Sheriff Rick Wells said.
Scott Rapson was arrested and charged with Aggravated Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer, DUI, and Fleeing to Elude. He was taken to Hillsborough County Jail
