Interstate 75 chase from East Naples to Lee County exceeded 100 mph, deputies say

A chase that began in Collier County and ended near Daniels Parkway in Lee County exceeded 100 mph on Interstate 75 on Thursday afternoon, authorities said.

Jermaine A. Bailey, 24, of Lehigh Acres, was arrested and faces multiple charges.

Collier deputies responded shortly after 2 p.m. to Collier and Davis boulevards in East Naples to a possible battery and aggravated assault with a vehicle. They observed two cars — including Bailey's black four-door Ford — pull into a doughnut shop on Davis, the arrest report states.

A deputy drove in behind both vehicles to talk to the drivers. Both cars entered the drive-thru lane, but then the Ford pulled away, turning onto Davis and cutting off several vehicles, the report states. 

The deputy activated lights and sirens and pursued the black Ford, which eventually headed north on I-75. The Ford driver sped and was erratic, cutting off several vehicles as he passed on the left and right shoulders of I-75, the arrest report states.

The Ford exited at Daniels and headed east, turning northwest onto State Road 82. The Ford driver lost control and crashed into a wooded area, and the lone occupant — Bailey — fled on foot, the arrest report states.

Collier and Lee deputies searched for the driver and reported they found Bailey in the 900 block of Meadow Road (SR 82) and arrested him.

Events leading to the chase began in East Naples, when a 21-year-old woman told authorities she met Bailey in the parking lot of Freedom Square along Triangle Boulevard near U.S. 41 East and Collier Boulevard. The woman wanted to leave, but Bailey demanded her wallet, telling her he needed 50 cents, the arrest report states.

Bailey eventually rammed his car into the woman's vehicle, the report states. She followed Bailey until deputies showed up at the doughnut shop. 

Bailey faces charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill, battery-touching or striking another person, high-speed reckless fleeing and eluding law enforcement officers with lights and sirens activated, and driving while his license was suspended, first offense.

He had been arrested nine times in Lee County since 2012, most recently in August on burglary and larceny charges.