Fleeing motorist arrested on Little Torch Key

A 35-year-old Royal Palm Beach man was arrested Friday after he fled from Deputies on U.S. 1 in a sport utility vehicle reaching speeds of 114 mph.

Brady Aaron Grissinger was charged with hit-and-run, fleeing and eluding, reckless driving and possession of a pill without a prescription.

911 Communications Specialists issued a be-on-the-lookout about 10 p.m. Friday after a driver, later identified as Grissinger, in a gray GMC Yukon® SUV rear-ended a BMW® at Mile Marker 54 and fled southbound at a high rate of speed. There were no serious injuries reported in the crash.

Deputy Corbin Hradecky spotted the GMC shortly thereafter on U.S. 1 in Marathon. Deputy Hradecky got behind the SUV. It pulled over into the center turn lane and stopped. Deputy Hradecky turned on his lights to conduct a traffic stop and the SUV took off at a high rate of speed. Deputy Hradecky followed the SUV as it reached speeds of 90 mph and then 100 mph while weaving around southbound traffic. Deputy Hradecky followed the SUV onto the Seven Mile Bridge but was unable to keep pace as the SUV was passing dangerously on the bridge. Deputy Hradecky lost sight of the SUV near Mile Marker 36.

Shortly thereafter, a motorists called 911 to report the SUV had pulled onto Barry Avenue on Little Torch Key. Sgt. John Jones found the SUV behind a large bush across from Parmer’s Resort on Barry Avenue. The SUV was unoccupied. Two resident witnesses stated they saw the driver, later identified as Grissinger, leave the SUV and run toward Parmer’s Resort.

A Key West Police K9 Unit was called the scene. Meanwhile, Deputy Hradecky observed a man matching Grissinger’s description peaking at Deputies from a small privacy wall attached to several resort rentals. The man then ducked behind a wall to conceal himself.

Several other witnesses identified Grissinger as the driver of the SUV.

Grissinger was taken to jail.