Florida Traffic Stop Escalates Into Violence as Suspect Flees With Officer Trapped Inside Vehicle

What began as a routine traffic stop in Eustis, Florida escalated into a dangerous confrontation early Saturday morning when police say suspect Shakoi Donovan, 28, accelerated his vehicle with one officer trapped inside and another officer being dragged along the pavement. Body camera footage captured the chaotic moments as officers attempted to remove the suspect from his silver Infiniti, which he had been driving erratically on a local street. The incident left one officer injured and resulted in multiple serious charges against Donovan.

Eustis Police initiated the traffic stop after observing the silver Infiniti weaving across a yellow line, with officers suspecting the driver was operating under the influence. Two officers approached the vehicle and requested that Donovan exit the car multiple times, but he refused to comply. When officers opened the driver’s side door and began attempting to physically remove him while the engine was still running, Donovan suddenly accelerated, trapping one officer inside the vehicle.

Body camera video shows the moment of escape, with one officer heard yelling that the suspect was fleeing with an officer inside the car. The second officer, who was partially inside the vehicle, was dragged approximately 10 to 15 feet down South Eustis Street as the car accelerated. According to the police report, the officer was “pinned between Donovan and the steering wheel” before being thrown from the vehicle, barrel rolling multiple times across the asphalt before being treated for injuries.

Donovan’s criminal history extends beyond this incident, with court records indicating previous arrests for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in May, as well as burglary and battery charges in 2022. He now faces an extensive list of charges including attempted murder of a law enforcement officer, aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, and resisting with violence. As of Friday, Donovan remained in custody with a scheduled court appearance on August 24.