Man arrested after fleeing in stolen car

A 31-year-old Clover, South Carolina man was arrested early Saturday in the Upper Keys after fleeing from Deputies and other law enforcement in a car reported stolen out of Maine.

Nicholas Scott Cascario Clayton was charged with grand theft of a motor vehicle and fleeing and eluding.

The incident began at 1 a.m. when the Sheriff’s Office received information that a stolen Chevrolet HHR could be traveling into the Florida Keys. Deputy Joel Torres spotted a black HHR traveling southbound near Mile Marker 106. Deputy Torres got behind the car at Mile Marker 103 and confirmed it was the stolen car. Deputy Torres turned on his lights and siren, but the car continued southbound at a speed of approximately 65 mph.

Multiple other Deputies as well as Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Officers and Florida Highway Patrol Troopers also responded.

Deputy Justin Rivas successfully deployed spike strips near Mile Marker 91, flattening two tires. The car continued southbound. Deputy Nestor Argote successfully deployed a second set of spike strips at Mile Marker 89, deflating the remaining tires.

The vehicle continued southbound on its rims. One rim buckled near Mile Marker 82, causing the driver — later identified as Clayton — to lose control of the car before it finally stopped in the grass on the highway shoulder.

Clayton was taken into custody without incident.

Clayton refused to state why he was in Monroe County or provide information about himself.

Clayton was taken to jail.