Man Crashes While Fleeing From Umatilla Police

    A short chase on SR 19 in Umatilla ended when the suspect struck a power pole, breaking it in two. Shameel Bradberry, 37, of Orlando is facing a variety of charges after the incident, which occurred shortly after 2 a.m. on Sunday, August 15.
    Umatilla Police reports indicate Bradberry fled a traffic stop that was initiated in the area of SR 19 and Cassady Street in downtown Umatilla around 2:06 a.m. Heading south, the suspect - who was driving a 2020 Chevrolet Malibu - traveled on SR 19 to the area of Ballpark Road, where he crossed the median into the northbound travel lanes, and then off the side of the road, first striking two roadside signs before going head-on into a high voltage utility pole, snapping the top of the pole off.
    Bradberry was transported to Central Florida Regional Medical Center in Sanford, but not before being cited for a variety of actions, including fleeing and eluding, failure to obey a traffic control device, failure to maintain a single lane, and refusing to sign citations.