K9 Jet helps arrest a suspect from a high speed chase in Marion County

On February 19, 2023, at around 10:30 p.m., Deputy Jeremiah Ricketts attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle in the 1400 block of SE Baseline Road for a possible window tint violation.

The driver, Chadrick Ruffin (B/M, DOB: 04/27/1990), refused to stop his vehicle and fled southbound on SE Baseline Road for several miles while driving at high speeds. Eventually, K-9 Deputy Anthony Esquivel became the lead pursuit vehicle. Ruffin ultimately came to a stop in the 11000 block of SE 56th Avenue, in Belleview, where he exited his vehicle and continued to flee from law enforcement on foot.

K-9 Deputy Esquivel and his partner, K-9 Jet, initiated a foot pursuit and, after a short distance, Ruffin was apprehended by K-9 Jet and taken into custody. K-9 Deputy Esquivel had observed Ruffin discard a small, black box and a cooler as he was fleeing on foot. Deputies located these items and inside the black box, deputies located approximately 39 grams of a white powder containing a mixture of fentanyl and cocaine, and 15 grams of methamphetamine.

The cooler discarded by Ruffin contained approximately 355 grams of marijuana, a scale, and numerous small, plastic bags.

Further investigation revealed that Ruffin was a convicted felon and, during a search of his vehicle, deputies found a loaded firearm in the driver’s side door.

Ruffin was arrested and charged with Trafficking in Fentanyl, Trafficking in Methamphetamine, Fleeing to Elude a Law Enforcement Officer (with High Speed or Reckless Driving), Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Felony, Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Sell, Possession of a Vehicle Used for Trafficking in a Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Resisting an Officer without Violence.

He was transported to the Marion County Jail, where he remains held without bond.