Photo Courtesy of Indian River County's Sheriff's Office
According to Indian River County police, Florida’s very own John Henry James III was arrested and hit with several charges after he allegedly led them on a 40-minute car chase and ended up throwing a 2-month old infant at the pursuing officers. Luckily, a deputy caught the young baby and promptly apprehended the fleeing James.
The 32-year-old man was observed driving recklessly, Indian River County police confirm, striking a detective’s car and running right over stop sticks, a tool used by law enforcement to deflate tires. He was finally boxed into a local apartment complex.
The Florida man then did the unthinkable, “bailing” out of his car and throwing an infant boy at approaching Deputy Jake Curby, who caught the baby and relocated him to safety, police say.
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James allegedly fled on foot after throwing the infant but was ultimately unsuccessful. According to Indian River County police, he was tackled to the ground by police but
continued to fight his fate by kicking and biting at them.“You can’t throw a baby at us and expect us to treat you with kid gloves,” Indian River County Sheriff Eric Flowers stated about the suspect.
Now, the Florida man faces a laundry list of charges for his reckless behavior, including “two felony counts of aggravated child abuse, aggravated battery on an officer/firefighter/EMT, battery on the same, reckless driving, and resisting arrest with violence.”
Curby, who caught the baby boy, told Florida’s WPBF about the frightening incident, “We train for anything, but baby catching is nothing we really train for. At that point in time, he just turned round didn’t say a word to me. Just turned around and threw the baby at me.”
“Didn’t underhand it,” he continued. “Just full-on reckless abandonment. Not a gently like, okay I’m giving up.”
Officers got in touch with the Department of Children and Families, who is also investigating the case.
James is currently held without bond.