Reserve deputy arrested in alleged ‘road rage’ incident

By Kate McCardell

Published: August 23, 2007

In what was described by authorities as “a road rage incident,” a Jackson County sheriff’s reserve deputy was charged Thursday with aggravated assault with a motor vehicle, leaving the scene of a crash and reckless driving, according to Florida Highway Patrol reports.

Samuel Efurd III was not booked into jail Thursday, but was given a notice to appear and faces first appearance this morning, according to personnel at the jail.

A representative at the Florida Highway Patrol said FHP first received a call around 10 a.m. Thursday about a hit-and-run by a red Chevy truck.

The incident apparently evolved into a chase between the driver of the vehicle that was struck and a red truck driven by Efurd. The incident ended at Highway 2 and Smokey Road outside of Graceville.

The driver of the other vehicle was confirmed to be off-duty officer Charles Vance of the Metro Nashville (Tennessee) Police Department.

According to Vance, the incident began as he traveled northbound on U.S. Highway 231, returning home from a vacation with his wife and young children.

“I was traveling northbound. I was in the left lane and he was in the right. He cut me off to where I had to slam on my brakes. I’m not sure why he did that. Then he got behind me. I started to slow down for the intersection at Hwy. 231 and Hwy. 2. He just rammed me,” said Vance.

Vance said that the red truck then “took off,” down Hwy. 2.

“He just took off going very fast. I had called it in after the hit happened and then I followed him at a distance down 231,” said Vance.

Vance said he observed Efurd’s vehicle driving at what appeared to reach, at several times, 100 miles per hour.

“He was running cars off the road,” said Vance.

Vance said he observed the red truck cutting off traffic to make a quick turn onto Smokey Road.

“It looked like he was just trying to get away and hide. When he turned onto that street, I followed him,” said Vance.

Vance said he approached the truck, which was parked halfway in a ditch. With his weapon drawn, Vance ordered Efurd to get on the ground.

“But he wasn’t listening,” said Vance.

Soon, a Jackson County recycling truck pulled up to the scene, which happened to be driven by an off-duty, unidentified Jackson County deputy. Vance said that deputy assisted him in obtaining the pistol that was on Efurd.

The highway patrol, at least one more Jackson County deputy, and fire rescue also arrived on the scene.

Vance said he’s not surprised by the charges Efurd faces because it meets standard protocol.

“I feel sorry for him and his family for the bad decisions he made,” said Vance.

A Florida Highway Patrol report included the following narrative: “On Thursday (FHP officers) were dispatched to a hit and run crash where the victim was an off-duty Sergeant with the Nashville Police Department. The victim was following the suspect westbound on State Road 2 from U.S. 231 at high speeds. The suspect crashed and due to the erratic behavior of the suspect, the victim held the suspect at gun point until the Chief of Police from Graceville and another off-duty Jackson County Deputy arrived on scene and secured the suspect. Trooper Gary Daniels was the first trooper to arrive on scene. During the course of the investigation, the incident was determined to be a road rage incident with aggravated batter with a motor vehicle. The suspect was identified as Samuel Efurd, a Jackson County Sheriff’s Department Reserve Deputy, and son of JCSO Sergeant Sammy Efurd. Due to the involvement of suspect Samuel Efurd with the JCSO, we were requested by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department to handle the investigation. After interviewing the witnesses, Trooper Gary Daniels placed Samuel Efurd under arrest for aggravated battery with motor vehicle, leaving scene of crash, and reckless driving and transported him to the Jackson County jail. Sgt. David Drake and Lt. Jerry Maddux were on the scene to assist Trooper Daniels. Major Dennis with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department is also aware of the incident.”