Palatka, Fla. — An Orange Park man is accused of leading police on a two-county chase.
According to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, Austin Daniel Cox stole a truck in Clay County Monday night.
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After trying to hit a Clay County deputy with the truck, investigators say Cox led police on a chase to Putnam County.
Putnam County deputies joined the chase that went from Bardin Road to Johns Road, where the suspect crashed into a cattle gate and fence.
Still trying to get away, deputies say Cox rammed a Clay County patrol car, then drove into a marshy area where he got out of the truck, covered himself in mud, and tried to hide.
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Deputies found the suspect with the help of K9 and he was arrested.
A search revealed Cox had a large amount of meth and a sawed-off shotgun.
Cox, 25, was charged with aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer, trafficking methamphetamine, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, carrying a concealed firearm, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, possession of a vehicle used to traffic narcotics, possession of a short-barreled rifle or shotgun, resisting arrest without violence and criminal mischief damage over $1,000.
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He’ll face additional charges in Clay County.
Cox is a convicted felon who was released from prison in 2021.
The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office closed out its Facebook message about the arrest with the following: “Just a friendly reminder to those city-dwelling criminals, just cuz you stole a truck, don’t mean you know how to mud bog in Bardin.”
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